Cracker Night

Teary eyes at the window, Where did Mum and Dad go? I wish someone would hurry up and come and get me, Gee I'm scared The cat shot through, She saw the light and fled. Cracker night was a real big deal, when I was a little kid They started lettin' them off after tea I ran inside and hid And all the dogs from everywhere were underneath me bed. We all went down in our dressing gowns to see the big bonfire Wide eyes watched the straw man burn on a mile-high pile of tires Hot as hell, big black smell and red hot rings of wire. Sky rockets zinging, Catherine wheels spinning, What a flamin' evening, Fire trucks were screaming Smoky haze hangin' round for days And Grandma's ears were ringing. Every night after school draggin' bits of wood, Boxes and branches and rotten old fences, And mattresses were good. We even scrounged a vinyl lounge And anything we could Little Guy Fawkes's and letter boxes Blown all out of shape Light the wick and back off quick, And make the big escape Cackin' ourselves and rippin' my shirt Scrambling through the gate Sky rockets zinging Catherine wheels spinning What a flamin' evening Fire trucks were screaming Smoky haze hangin' round for days And Grandma's ears were ringing. A house burnt down on the edge of town We all took off with Pa This thing whizzed across the road And nearly hit our car A bang and spark lit up the park And everyone went Ah! Ah! Ah! Cracker night was a real big deal, When I was a little kid, It seems like only yesterday Tucked away in bed Dreams of schemes and double bunger Daring things we did --- Cracker Night - John Williamson