From the recording Tortology
The genesis of this song was a brief article in a Murdoch publication, which depending on your view of Murdoch publications could mean the song is based on a true story. The song had been on the backburner as I was having difficulty fitting the full story into a standard format. In about 2007 I became friends online with Joe Nickerson (aka Rapster) on a site called "Mixposure". I called on Joe to come up with a rap which expedited the story and created a bridge.
Lyrics
A PARIS TALE
(B. Ralston/J. Nickerson)
In an old deathbed in Paris
Lay an old sick man by name of Jacques Versailles
He never, never, never had a friend in his life
He could die tomorrow, who would cry
“You can take it with you
You can take it with you
When you go
You can take it with you
You can take it with you
When you go”
Walking down the streets of Paris
Three young men with evil in their heads
Biting the heads off guide dogs
Throwing cripples from their beds
“We can take your money Jacques
We can your money
Before you go
We can take your money before you die
We can take you money
Who will ever know?”
Opening Jacques’ door,
They stealthily creep inside
Jacques’ asleep
They toss him out
Beneath the bed there lies a golden prize
Eighty-four pairs of socks
Filled to the hilt with money
Sous and francs
We’ve done pretty well with Jacques
After all old men are easier than banks
We’re going to be stinking rich”
Our thieving boys know what they’ve got
But they don’t realise that they’ve dropped a sock
Come on boys, you better take stock
If the cops find out you’re in for a shock
Crime doesn’t pay you can’t just walk
Not with Jacques’ stinking sock
They’ve copped the scent
Your way is blocked
You’re heading for gaol, forget Bangkok
(Instrumental)
“You can’t take it with you
You can’t take it with you
Where you’re going
You can’t take it with you
You can’t take it with you
Where you’re going”
Out come the gendarmes
The bloodhounds pick up their trail
They sniff the sock
They track them down
The murderous thieves will spend five year in gaol
But what of the loot
Now there’s a hoot
Jacques passed away
Without family friends or mates
With no one left to take the cash
The smelly stash gets grabbed up by the state
Mon dieu et droit
Thieves may come, and thieves may go
But no one steals like a government though
Thieves may come, and thieve may go
But no one steals like a government though
Copyright 2007 Brian Ralston and Joe Nickerson