Cracker Night

(album: Mallee Boy - 1986)

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 letting 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 tyres
Hot as hell, big black smell and red hot rings of wire

Sky rockets zinging
Catherine wheels spinning
What a flaming evening
Fire trucks were screaming
Smoky haze hanging round for days
And Grandma's ears were ringing

Everynight after school dragging 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
Cacking ourselves and ripping my shirt
Scrambling through the gate

Sky rockets zinging
Catherine wheels spinning
What a flaming evening
Fire trucks were screaming
Smoky haze hanging 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