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C J Dennis - The Joy Ride
Work rating: Low

Ah Gawd! It makes me sick to think
   Of what I `eard an` seen;
Poor `Arry like a wet rag flung
   Across the wrecked machine;
An` Rose, `er far all chiner-white
   Against the gory green.

Now `Arry Cox `e drives a car
   For Doctor Percy Gray.
Ses `e to me: "On Sund`y nex`
   The Doc. will be away.
`Ow is it for a little trip
   To Fernville for the day?

"I know two bonzer girls," `e ses;
   "Fair `otties, both, they are.
There`s Rose who serves behind the joint
   In Mudge`s privit bar,
An` Lena Crump who jerks the pump
   Down at the Southern Star."

Now, who`d refuse a Sund`y trip
   With girls an` all give in?
The car was there an` oil to spare.
   To rat would be a sin!
An` who`d refuse a drop o` booze
   When pals is flush o` tin?

Wot all the courts an` papers say
   Can`t add to my distress....
Rose, with the blood upon `er face
   An` on `er crumpled dress!
An` that poor champ who got the bump --
   Ah, Gawd! `E was a mess!

The girls `ad stout at ten mile out,
   An` we was drinkin` beer.
I swear they lies like `ell who ses
   That we was on our ear!
For, or we was both, I take me oath,
   As sober as me here.

Now, Lena was a dashin` piece,
   `Igh-spirited an` flash.
`Twas plain enough to me that day
   That `Arry`d done `is dash.
An` Rose -- (Ah! how `er eyes did stare)
   Rose was my speshul mash.

It`s easy now fer folks to talk
   who might have done the same.
We meant no `arm to anyone,
   An` `Arry knew `is game.
`Twas like a flash, the skid -- the crash.
   An` we was not to blame.

I wisht I could shut out that sight;
   fergit that awful row!
Poor Rose!  `Er face all chiner-white,
   Like I can see it now;
An` `Arry like a heap o` clothes
   Jist chucked there any`ow.

They ses we painted Fernville red;
   They ses that we was gay;
But wot come after dull`s me mind
   To wot them liars say. 
We never dreamed of death an` `ell
   When we set out that day.

`Twas ev`nin` when we turned for `ome:
   The moon shone full that night:
An` for a mile or more ahead
   The road lay gleamin` white:
An` Rose sat close aside o` me.
   `Er face turned to the light.

Wot if we sung a song or two?
   Wot it they `eard us shout?
Is song an` laughter things to curse
   An` make a fuss about?
"Go faster! faster!" Lena screams.
   An` `Arry let `er out.

I`d give me soul jist to ferget.
   Lord!  how `er eyes did stare!
`Er kisses warm upon me lips,
   I seen `er lyin` there.
Blood on `er face, all chiner-white,
   An` on `er yeller `air.

I never took no `eed o` pace
   (I`ve been on twenty trips).
An` Rose was restin` in me arms,
   `Er cheek against my lips.
A precious lot I dream of skids,
   A lot I thought of slips.

I only know we never thinks --
   I know we never dreams
Of folk walkin` on that road;
   Till, sudden, Lena screams....
An`, after that, the sights I saw
   I`ve seen again in dreams.

We never seen the bloke ahead!
   `Ow can they call us rash?
I jist seen `Arry move to shove
   `Is arm around `is mash;
I seen `er jump to grab the wheel,
   Then, Lord!...there came the smash!

Aw, they can blame an` cry their shame!
   It ain`t for that I care.
I held `er in my arms an` laughed....
   Then seen `er lying` there,
The moonlight streamin` on `er face,
   An` on `er yeller `air.
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