it all began one cold grey morn
with voices in the early dawn
they grew louder day by day
and though she cried
they would not go away
cos what you are your life reflects
the tragic haunting of shirley essex

one sunday afternon in june
rain again it ends to soon
she tries to sleep but can't quite make it
mother calls she'd better fake it
simply better fake it
and what you are your life reflects
the tragic haunting of shirley essex

heard she married a boy she knew
but he didn't know what to do
when their world just fell apart
when they tried to make a brand new start
it wasn't from the heart
and what you are your mind affects
the tragic hainting of shirley essex

let's make a brand new start
let's tell it like it is
right from our foolish heart
little noises in the night
don't let them wake you up in fright
we know what they are anyway
but they'll never go away
and that's why we are happy
that is why we must be happy

I'm your brother too
I'm your best friend too
I hope you love me too

let's all drink and be merry
might as well all be merry
tomorrow never comes
and it's not so much fun
when your day is done

now she's going old and grey
why did her friends all go away
was it something that she said
or was it something else instead
like crying softly in her bed
and what you are your life reflects
the tragic haunting of shirley essex

they buried her last septemeber
no one came they didn't remember
the shining little girl in school
who though that she was being cool
by playing everybody's fool
it's what you are your life reflects
the tragic haunting of shirley essex

now so many years have passed
doesn't time fly by so fast
and so we try to make our mark
we end up strolling through the park
even when it's after dark
is this what you are your life reflects
the tragic haunting of shirley essex

© abracad 2003