The Smithfield

Called in the pub for lunch    
Smithfield on the sign    
A handsome place    
Beside the road that leads to town.
       
The lounge set out with tables    
Was neat and tidy . . . .    
But we did n't look too close    
'Today's Specials' wiped clean    
No menus to be seen.No one at the bar.    
A few were drinking in the pool-room    
Not enough to pay the bills.    
It was then we saw a pile of menus,    
Bound with string    
And still we didn't twig.    
     
Malcolm's wife had gone away    
To see her sister somewhere in Wales    
Jack,I'd left behind so we both were free.    
We settled at the bar to order drinks    
A two course lunch,the best in town    
And still we didn't twig.    
     
I pressed the button    
The urgent buzz quite rude    
Strangers always jump    
The barman rarely listens!    
Press it twice, worth the wait    
The Guinness always good,    
Frothy down the sides.    
"We'd like to order lunch,"    
It was one and we were hungry    
Seemed a reasonable thing to do.    
And still we didn't twig.    
     
It was then we saw reality...    
‘Specials board’ wiped clean    
The menus tied with string    
None but us to order.    
"Sorry there's no food today    
Closing Tuesday night”
    
Boarded up,this time for good    
There has been trouble in the past    
Landlords came and went    
The cattle market closed,    
never been the same.    
We always wondered how they managed    
Now we knew they didn't.
    
Two other pubs are closing    
In the same sad week    
Now where shall we go to fight and argue?    
We did our best to keep them open    
Two pounds sixty pence a pint!    
At the next election,what shall we do?    
Maybe then we shall twig.    
     
Perturbation will do the rest,    
We'll scatter round the county    
Find new friends, fresh ales.    
I have in mind  a little place.    
Down a country lane    
Drinking there two times a week    
Another in the afternoon    
Not quite so far away    
A pint at each no more.
    
But the Smithfield's around the corner    
The other two six miles.    
Its my own fault    
I should not have strayed,but    
Twigged and saved on petrol.