Lyrics

Gideon
In the streets around here
There was nobody tougher than me,
I was quick with me fists and fast with me footwork,
As you can plainly see.

But while fighting was useful for getting your way,
‘Mong the toughs of the town where you could hold sway,
There had to be something that was better than this,
I was fourteen years old and I’d never been kissed.

Well of course she’d ignore me and her friends would all sneer
At me bloody nose dripping and me cauliflower ear,
For it’s hard to convince in a romantic pose with two lovely black eyes and a broke nose,

Where a girl is attracted to skills more refined
Than the pugilists’ art, and so I inclined
To take meself serious as a modern romancer
And I secretly learned all the moves of a dancer.

So, ye swing to the left, and ye swing to the right,
Keep your eyes on your partner, like you would in a fight,
Just keep to the rhythm and follow the beat,
The important thing’s never to look at your feet,

Then a miracle happens, your mind’s in a trance,
Though the strategy’s subtle, retreat and advance,
It’s all about attitude, all in your stance,
Attention to detail, leave nothing to chance,
Which explains how the pugilist finally learned how to dance.

And I’d waltz with a broomstick and if I was caught,
I’d pretend I was sweeping or practicing sport,
But I really had eyes for your mother ye see,
Wanting her to acknowledge this new version of me,
Now everyone’s watching, expecting I’ll fail,
But there’s a fire in me belly, and there’s a wind in me sails,
I knew it was risky, I was taking a chance,
But I couldn’t retreat now, I had to advance,

Gideon & Tom
So ye swing to the left and ye swing to the right,
(Keep your eyes on your partner like you would in a fight,)
Just keep to the rhythm and follow the beat,
(The important thing’s never to look at yer feet,)

(Then a miracle’s happened, and your mind’s in a trance,)
They’re all laughing and cheering and looking askance,

Gideon
On the night that the pugilist
Finally learned how to dance.
In a bout where the strategist’s bridges were burned,

Tom
Where is seemed that his fortune had suddenly turned,

Gideon
‘Twas the night that the scrapper was suddenly dapper,

Tom
This poor fellow’s heart was still going like the clappers,

Gideon & Tom
The night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance.