Mr Riley Of Higginbottom & Clive

(album: The Shame Just Drained - 1977)

Mr Riley
Mr Riley
Mr Riley
Mr Riley

Mr Riley sweeps the floor at Higginbottom & Clive
Sure to meet a guy like him somewhere while you are alive

(Ooh...) Goes to work at eight and starts at two
(Ahh...) All that time reads papers in the loo
(Sha-la, sha-la, la...) Has a crush on Miss Breen of the first aid room
Never out of day was [?] from his broom

Mr Riley smallest in the land
Let me shake you by the hand
Mr Riley older than the walls
Come to work and man that's all

Mr Riley had a go and Higginbottom one day
That old Higgy raged and told our old friend to get his pay

Strike, strike!
(Ooh...) We all called as one
(Ahh...) Management and justice they had done
(Sha-la, sha-la, la...) Reinstated Riley sweeping with his broom
Working with Miss Breen in the first aid room

Mr Riley smallest in the land
Let me shake you by the hand
Mr Riley older than the walls
Come to work and man that's all

Mr Riley lived so long he died
Near and far'est one we cried
Now I bet he's loping up on high
Chasing lady angels through the sky

(Mr Riley, Mr Riley) Mr Riley smallest in the sky
(Mr Riley, Mr Riley) Working for the men of high
(Mr Riley, Mr Riley...) Mr Riley smallest in the sky
(Mr Riley, Mr Riley...) Working for the men of high

(Mr Riley, Mr Riley...) Mr Riley smallest in the sky
(Mr Riley, Mr Riley...) Working for the men of high
(Mr Riley, Mr Riley...) Mr Riley smallest in the sky...