Peter Street
The Fables Lyrics
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It's of a trick was played on me, it wont delay you
Long
I came from sea the other day, a fair girl I did meet
She kindly asked me to a dance, t'was up on Peter
Street
"Oh no" says I "me fair maid, though I can dance quite
Tonight I'm bound for Wicklow's Town 'tis where my
People dwell"
"You'd better come with me" she said "for the distance
Is not far"
And finding her so friendlily I jumped into her car
Well as the dance was over, straight to the bed did go
Was little did I ever think she'd pull my overthrow
Robbed my gold watch and 30 pounds, a pack of fags and
Fled
And left me there stark naked alone upon the bed
Now when I awoke in the morning, it was nothing did I
Spy
But a woman's shirt and apron upon the bed did lie
I wrung my hands and tore my hair and cried what shall
I do
For tonight I'm bound for Wicklow's Town, no more will
I see you
Well as the streets were lonesome at the hour of 2
O'clock
I put on the shirt and apron and marched down to the
Dock
The crew they saw me coming, these words to me did say
"My dear old chap you struck a snap since you've been
Gone away
Are those the new spring fashions that the ladies wear
On shore
Where is the shop you bought them at, and is there
Anymore"
The captain on the quarter-deck looked at me with frown
Saying "Jack I'd buy a better suit than that for thirty
Pounds"
"I would sir if I could sir, if I'd only got the chance
But I met a girl on Peter Street and she asked me to a
Dance
She danced my heart's deception, I got robbed from head
To feet
And I'll take my oath no more I'll go to a dance on
Peter Street"
Oh you landsmen and you seamen, a warning take by me
Be sure to choose good company when you go out on spree
Be sure to choose good company or you'll find yourself
Like me
With a woman's shirt and apron for to fit you out for
Sea
The Fables’ song “Peter Street” is a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling prey to deception and robbery. The singer, likely a sailor, meets a seemingly friendly girl on Peter Street who invites him to a dance. Despite his reservations due to his impending journey to Wicklow’s Town, he accepts her invitation and ends up being robbed of his watch, money, and cigarettes. He wakes up the next morning to find himself left with only the woman’s shirt and apron on the bed he slept in. Feeling ashamed and stranded, he puts on the clothes and walks back to the dock where he is mocked by his crewmates for his unusual attire.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh you landsmen and you seamen, come listen to my song
Attention all sailors and landlubbers, heed my tale
It's of a trick was played on me, it wont delay you
Long
I fell victim to a scam, let me tell you how it happened quickly
I came from sea the other day, a fair girl I did meet
She kindly asked me to a dance, t'was up on Peter
Street
After returning from a voyage, I met a beautiful lady who invited me to a dance on Peter Street
"Oh no" says I "me fair maid, though I can dance quite
Well
Tonight I'm bound for Wicklow's Town 'tis where my
People dwell"
"I cannot dance with you fair lady, as I must return home to Wicklow's Town where my family lives"
"You'd better come with me" she said "for the distance
Is not far"
And finding her so friendlily I jumped into her car
To persuade me, the lady said the distance was short and offered me a ride in her car, and I trusted her enough to accept
Well as the dance was over, straight to the bed did go
Was little did I ever think she'd pull my overthrow
Robbed my gold watch and 30 pounds, a pack of fags and
Fled
And left me there stark naked alone upon the bed
After the dance, the lady lured me into her bed and stole my valuables, then left me naked and alone in shock
Now when I awoke in the morning, it was nothing did I
Spy
But a woman's shirt and apron upon the bed did lie
I wrung my hands and tore my hair and cried what shall
I do
The next morning, I found only a woman's clothing on the bed and panicked about what to do
For tonight I'm bound for Wicklow's Town, no more will
I see you
I realized that I had lost my chance to confront the lady before leaving for Wicklow's Town that night
Well as the streets were lonesome at the hour of 2
O'clock
I put on the shirt and apron and marched down to the
Dock
Feeling helpless, I wore the lady's clothes and walked down to the dock
The crew they saw me coming, these words to me did say
"My dear old chap you struck a snap since you've been
Gone away
The crew teased me about my unusual appearance, saying that I missed out on something while I was away
Are those the new spring fashions that the ladies wear
On shore
Where is the shop you bought them at, and is there
Anymore"
The crew joked that I was wearing trendy women's clothes and asked where they could buy them too
The captain on the quarter-deck looked at me with frown
Saying "Jack I'd buy a better suit than that for thirty
Pounds"
The captain was disappointed with my appearance and suggested that I should have spent thirty pounds on a better outfit
"I would sir if I could sir, if I'd only got the chance
But I met a girl on Peter Street and she asked me to a
Dance
She danced my heart's deception, I got robbed from head
To feet
And I'll take my oath no more I'll go to a dance on
Peter Street"
I explained how I got tricked by the lady and robbed, and swore that I would never attend a dance on Peter Street again
Oh you landsmen and you seamen, a warning take by me
Be sure to choose good company when you go out on spree
Be sure to choose good company or you'll find yourself
Like me
With a woman's shirt and apron for to fit you out for
Sea
My cautionary advice to all sailors and landlubbers is to choose trustworthy companions when having fun, or else you may end up like me, wearing women's clothes on your next voyage
Contributed by Tyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.