I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl
Is it true what you hear?
Did he do it out of fear?
Was the day drawing near when a child
Would start to show?
Was it rage or shame or the damage to his name?
Was it something worse?
Does anybody know?
Did she pay a price
For making them look twice?
Like a glimpse of paradise
Across a dull and bitter land?
Did she pa** them by
Did she dare to meet their eye?
Did she scorn them all
And did they understand?
A grief to her father
Did she really leave him?
A lover to her brother
Yes, we all believe him
Temptation to her betters
No better than she should be
Unfaithful to her lover
He always knew she would be
CHORUS
She says "I never had a chance
To prove them wrong
My time was short, the story long
No, I never had a chance
To prove them wrong
It's always them that write the song"
Did he go to ground?
Was the suitcase ever found?
Did the police come swarming round
On a trail already cold?
Did he lead them a dance?
Did he run away to France?
Did he shop himself before the day was old?
O she was bound to lose
If she set her face to choose
They never could excuse her
For stirring up their fears
She was much too young
Now the earth has stopped her tongue
You can hear the voices
Calling down the years
CHORUS
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl