No's Not A Word
Richard Thompson Lyrics

Me name is Sam Jones and it's bones me occupation
Hello, my name is Sam Jones and I make a living by dealing with bones.

Chuck your old hocks out for my consideration
If you have any discarded bones, feel free to offer them to me.

Thirty years a bone man, up and down the nation
I have been working with bones for thirty years and have travelled across the country doing so.

Sam Jones deliver them bones
I, Sam Jones, am known for collecting and dealing with bones.

I've been among the shamrock and I've been among the thistle
I have travelled extensively across the UK and Ireland.

I like it all picked over, clean as a whistle
I prefer bones that are clean and free of any trace of flesh or gristle.

No sign of meat on, no sign of gristle
The bones I collect are not contaminated with any meat or gristle.

Sam Jones deliver them bones
Again, I am reminding you that I am Sam Jones, the bone collector.

I've seen battlefields whites with human ivory
I have witnessed the aftermath of wars where there were piles of human bones.

Noble Dukes and Princes stripped of flesh and finery
I have seen the bones of royalty who were once adorned with finery and flesh.

When the crows have done their job, they say, that's the time for me
I usually collect bones after scavengers like crows have picked them clean.

Sam Jones deliver them bones
Once again, I'm letting you know that I'm the bone collector named Sam Jones.

And I even dream of bones when I'm lying very ill
I dream of bones even when I'm sick or unwell.

Rooms full of skeletons a-dancin' the quadrille
In my dreams, skeletons come to life and dance like humans.

Rows and rows of skulls singin' Blueberry Hill
In my dreams, I see rows of skulls making music and singing 'Blueberry Hill'.

Sam Jones deliver them bones
Even in my dreams, I'm still identified as the one who collects bones, Sam Jones.

And if you're unburied, the likes of me will find you
I even collect bones from people who are not buried properly and left exposed.

You're no good to worms but you might become the finest glue
While bones are not helpful to worms or decomposers, they can be used to make high-quality glue.

We'll grind you up and spread you out as fertilizer, too
We can also grind bones into fertilizer and use it in soil to promote plant growth.

Sam Jones deliver them bones
As before, I'm still identified as the famous bone collector, Sam Jones.

And I've got a lorry, it's me own bone shaker
I have a vehicle that I use to transport bones, which I affectionately call 'the bone shaker'.

Where's there old knuckle joints, I'll be the undertaker
I am willing to collect any kind of bones, even old knuckle joints, and I am seen as a kind of undertaker for the bones I collect.

I'll come calling 'round just like the butcher and the baker
I go around collecting bones in a manner similar to how butchers and bakers go around selling their goods.

Sam Jones deliver them bones
Need I say it again? I am Sam Jones, the one who collects bones.

Oh, Sam Jones deliver them bones
This line is similar to the previous line and the chorus of the song which just emphasizes that Sam Jones is known for delivering bones.