The Balcony - Paul Heaton

As he taxes a draw on the fifteenth floor

He can’t help cursing his luck

Life could have dealt him such a different hand

Maybe two across and twenty-three up

But there ain’t door on the thirty-eighth floor

No shortcut out of this dump

The nearer highrise comes closer to the skies

The temptation to actually jump

And it’s sadder, the leaving than left

Sadder, the going than gone

Saddest of all is the person bereft

Of the chance to jump off or walk on

Falling from ladder, landing on dagger

A thousand and one ways to die

Better the brave and the early to grave

And damn those too frightened to try

As he awaits the last score on the 25th floor

He looks down at the madness below

It’s always some Grimsby or Scunthorpe

Some place he ain’t been or won’t go

And as result comes in and his head goes down

Yet another week he’s gonna be stuck

Where the betting slips rain like confetti

Let down, thrown out or screwed up

And it’s sadder, the leaving than left

Sadder, the going than gone

Saddest of all is the person bereft

Of the chance to jump off or walk on

Falling from ladder, landing on dagger

A thousand and one ways to die

Better the brave and the early to grave

And damn those too frightened to try

So we wish you good spaces in faraway places

Good luck in the folk that you meet

Cause if you don’t travel, the dust and the gravel

Will swallow you up from your feet

This song that we give, please carry it with

To remind you we long your return

Travel thee far and travel thee well

And bring back every lesson you learn

Travel thee far and travel thee well

And bring back every lesson you learn