| [00:05.670] |
Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat |
| [00:10.410] |
The Cat of the Railway Train |
| [00:15.800] |
There's a whisper down the line at eleven thirty-nine |
| [00:19.090] |
When the Night Mail's ready to depart |
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Saying, "Skimble, where is Skimble? |
| [00:23.980] |
Has he gone to hunt the thimble? |
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We must find him or the train can't start" |
| [00:28.970] |
All the guards and all the porters |
| [00:30.590] |
And the station master's daughters |
| [00:32.310] |
Would be searching high and low |
| [00:35.530] |
Saying "Skimble where is Skimble |
| [00:37.170] |
For unless he's very nimble |
| [00:39.040] |
Then the night mail just can't go." |
| [00:42.180] |
At eleven forty-two with the signal overdue |
| [00:45.640] |
And the passengers all frantic to a man |
| [00:48.840] |
That's when I would appear and I'd saunter to the rear |
| [00:52.410] |
I'd been busy in the luggage van! |
| [00:57.110] |
Then he gave one flash of his glass-green eyes |
| [01:00.580] |
And the signal went "All Clear!" |
| [01:03.800] |
They'd be off at last to the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere! |
| [01:09.450] |
Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat |
| [01:14.100] |
The Cat of the Railway Train |
| [01:19.090] |
You might say that by and large |
| [01:20.970] |
It was me who was in charge of the Sleeping Car Express |
| [01:25.690] |
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards |
| [01:29.040] |
I would supervise them all more or less |
| [01:32.550] |
Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces |
| [01:35.500] |
Of the travellers in the first and the third |
| [01:38.860] |
He establishes control by a regular patrol |
| [01:42.020] |
And he'd know at once if anything occurred |
| [01:45.480] |
He would watch you without winking |
| [01:47.110] |
And he saw what you were thinking |
| [01:48.830] |
And it's certain that he didn't approve |
| [01:51.920] |
Of hilarity and riot |
| [01:53.760] |
So that folk were very quiet |
| [01:55.680] |
When Skimble was about and on the move |
| [02:00.360] |
You could play no pranks with Skimbleshanks! |
| [02:03.610] |
He's a cat that cannot be ignored |
| [02:06.960] |
So nothing went wrong on the Northern Mail |
| [02:10.290] |
When Skimbleshanks was aboard |
| [02:15.740] |
It was very pleasant when they'd found their little den |
| [02:18.700] |
With their name written up on the door |
| [02:21.850] |
And the berth was very neat with a newly folded sheet |
| [02:25.240] |
And not a speck of dust upon the floor |
| [02:28.560] |
There was every sort of light |
| [02:30.210] |
You could make it dark or bright |
| [02:32.080] |
And a button you could turn to make a breeze |
| [02:35.120] |
And a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in |
| [02:38.640] |
And a crank to shut the window should you sneeze |
| [02:41.790] |
Then the guard looked in politely and would ask you very brightly, |
| [02:45.440] |
"Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?" |
| [02:48.730] |
But I was just behind him and was ready to remind him |
| [02:52.500] |
For Skimble won't let anything go wrong |
| [02:56.770] |
When they crept into their cosy berth |
| [03:00.500] |
And pulled up the counterpane |
| [03:03.690] |
They all could reflect that it was very nice |
| [03:06.940] |
To know that they wouldn't be bothered by mice |
| [03:10.270] |
They can leave all that to the Railway Cat |
| [03:13.560] |
The Cat of the Railway Train |
| [03:16.230] |
Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat |
| [03:20.980] |
The Cat of the Railway Train |
| [03:26.180] |
In the watches of the night I was always fresh and bright |
| [03:29.580] |
Every now and then I'd have a cup of tea |
| [03:32.670] |
With perhaps a drop of Scotch while I was keeping on the watch |
| [03:36.040] |
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea |
| [03:39.260] |
They were fast asleep at Crewe and so they never knew |
| [03:42.470] |
That I was walking up and down the station |
| [03:45.640] |
They were sleeping all the while I was busy at Carlisle |
| [03:48.860] |
Where I met the station master with elation |
| [03:52.280] |
They might see me at Dumfries if I summoned the police |
| [03:55.460] |
If there was anything they ought to know about |
| [03:58.780] |
When they got to Gallowgate there they did not have to wait |
| [04:02.360] |
For Skimbleshanks would help them to get out! |
| [04:11.830] |
And he gives a wave of his long brown tail |
| [04:16.240] |
Which says "I'll see you again! |
| [04:19.420] |
You'll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail |
| [04:22.710] |
The Cat of the Railway Train!" |
| [04:26.460] |
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