HIGHFLYER

(Composed prior to 1971; from manuscript held by B. Burke)
 
They counted your wheels as you came into York
Highflyer, highflyer, highflyer!
You can bet that you’re causing a right load of talk
Highflyer, highflyer, highflyer!
With four at the front and with two at the back
and four inbetween – as a matter of fact
you’re a bloody-magnificent Lord of the Track
Highflyer, highflyer, highflyer!
 
You’re the best locomotive this station has seen
Highflyer, highflyer, highflyer!
- There’s a “Great Northern” driver who’s growing bright green ..!
Highflyer, highflyer, highflyer!
“Hey, ‘Lanky’! What’s THAT? Can that THING really go …?”
“Oh, nay. It’s the coaches what pushes, you know.
And there’s me and the Fireman here only for show …!”
(Highflyer, highflyer, highflyer …)
 
When together we leave on the two ‘Twelve O’clocks’
Highflyer, highflyer, highflyer
That “Great Northern” driver is in for some shocks.
And the blast from your chimney will help quite a bit
to make him repent of his “Great Northern” wit
- when we leave him behind in a great cloud of  [RASPBERRY] .. !
Highflyer, highflyer, highflyer!

 
 
AUTHOR’S NOTES:
Air – “Tit willow”.
Not quite sure of times of trains. This piece is too technical for a general audience.

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