Short Of A Quid - John Williamson

Well I’ve listened with patience to all your sad tales

When you’re short of a smoke or the pub’s got not ale

But tell me fair dinkum, I don’t want you to kid

Have you ever been sipping and short of a quid

Have you been to strange town in search of job

Where a stranger’s not welcome by the local born mob

You’ve probably done the same thing as I did

Stood around in the bar and was short of a quid

As I gazed at the drinkers all quenching their thirst

My lips were so dry I thought they would burst

I reckoned someone would notice but no-body did

Theyve apparently never been short of a quid

The publican’s looks were black as the night

And I heard someone whisper, this blokes on the bite

So I held up my wrist-watch and called for a bid

But no one would buy it or lend me a quid

Oh you blokes who have money to travel in style

May laugh at my story but I too can smile

To the traveller and the drifter I’ll raise my old head

Cause they know what its like to be short of a quid

Well I’ve listened with patience to all your sad tales

When you’re short of a smoke, or the pubs got no ale

But tell me you Gypsies I don’t want you to kid

Have you ever been travelling short of a quid