Marc Almond - Old Jack's Charm lyrics

It was in the tattoo parlour Where he engraved their names Words a winding round his shoulders Reminders now he's older In the magic of the parlour Down his arm unwinds a story Love and hate and Mum and Dad In flames of hope and glory A mermaid and a schooner Tells us he was once at sea A heart pierced by an arrow Tells us once more in love was he And a dragon spitting fire He's forgotten what that's for But tattooed on his mind Is a reminder of the war He gave up tattooing lovers Where no room for any others A line through every sweetheart With another etched below In every port a stormy girl They loved him and they loved him so Each one for all to see adorned With Cupids and with bows A mermaid and a schooner Tells us he was once at sea A heart pierced by an arrow Tells us once more in love was he and a dragon spitting fire He's forgotten what that's for But tattooed on his mind is a reminder of war In the magic of the parlour Swapping laughter swapping stories Where the words are often hard And the air is always blue He remembers all his mates from then He lost a couple maybe ten Their headstone on his forearm as a crucifix tattoo Now he leans upon the bar With a mysterious air And the ladies gather round To view his decorated arms He'll tell them of each scroll and line And other scars not so fine And they always want to see A little more of Old Jacks Charms A mermaid and a schooner ...