Brian Purdy - The Ballad Of Missing Hanratty

Hanratty, where in the world have you been?
We looked all over, you ain’t been seen –
Not in the holds with the stevedores;
Not in the hell-holes dotting the shore.

Your drinking-pals say you haven’t been ‘round;
You’re hard to see all over the town
You need to come home, need to do it fast
But no-one’s seen you since Tuesday last.

Your wife is frantic ‘cause the rent is due
Your kiddies are hungry and it’s all on you
No-one’s seen you since Tuesday last
You need to come home, need to do it fast.

Now, down at a joint called The Iron Nail
There’s a girl who knows you like a cop knows jail
I tried your name, all I got was a smile
A dirty suggestion and deuces wild

On deuces wild at the tables there
I lost my stake with a double pair
Left by the door and I sailed through the night
The moon above me shed a pitiful light.

Chorus:
Hanratty, Hanratty, where did you go?
Your babies are hungry and your wife don’t know
How she’s gonna make it if you don’t show
You better come home