T.S. Eliot - Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat lyrics

[DEMETER] Skimbleshanks, the Railway cat The cat of the railway train [COMPANY] There's a whisper down the line At eleven thirty-nine When the night mail's ready to depart Saying, "Skimble, where is Skimble? Has he gone to hunt the thimble? We must find him or the train can't start" [SKIMBLESHANKS] All the guards and all the porters And the stationmaster's daughters Would be searching high and low Saying "Skimble, where is Skimble? For unless he's very nimble Then the night mail just won't go." At eleven forty-two With the signal overdue And the pa**engers all frantic to a man That's when I would appear And I'd saunter to the rear I'd been busy in the luggage van! [COMPANY] Then he gave one flash Of his gla**-green eyes And the signal went "all clear" [SKIMBLESHANKS] They'd be off at last To the northern part Of the northern hemisphere! [COMPANY] Skimbleshanks, the Railway cat The cat of the railway train [SKIMBLESHANKS] You could say that by and large It was me who was in charge Of the Sleeping Car Express From the driver and guards To the bagmen playing cards I would supervise them all, more or less [COMPANY] Down the corridor he paces And examines all the faces Of the travellers in the first and the third He established his control By a regular patrol And he'd know at once if anything occured He would you watch you without winking And he knows what you were thinking And it's certain that he didn't approve Of hilarity and riot So that folk were very quiet When Skimble was about and on the move You could play no pranks With Skimbleshanks He's a cat that cannot be ignored So nothing went wrong On the Northern Mail When Skimbleshanks was aboard [SKIMBLESHANKS] It was very pleasant When they'd found their little den With their name written up on the door And the berth was very neat With a newly folded sheet And not a speck of dust on the floor There was every sort of light You could make it dark or bright And a bu*ton you could turn to make a breeze And a funny little basin You're supposed to wash your face in And a crank to shut the window should you sneeze Then the guard looked in politely And would ask you very brightly Do you like your morning tea weak or strong? But I was just behind him And was ready to remind him For Skimble won't let anything go wrong [COMPANY] When they crept into their cozy berth And pulled up the counterpane They ought to reflect it was very nice To know that they wouldn't be bothered by mice They can leave all that to the railway cat The cat of the railway train Skimbleshanks, the railway cat The cat of the railway train [SKIMBLESHANKS] In the watches of the night I was always fresh and bright Every now and then I'd have a cup of tea With perhaps a drop of scotch While I was busy keeping up the watch Only stopping here and there to catch a flea They were fast asleep at Crew And so they never knew That I was walking up and down the station They were sleeping all the while I was busy at Carlisle Where I met the stationmaster with elation They might see me at Dumfries If I summoned the police If there was anything they ought to know about [COMPANY] When they got to Gallowgate There they did not have to wait For Skimbleshanks will help them to get out And he gives you a wave Of his long brown tail Which says "I'll see you again" You'll meet without fail On the Midnight Mail The cat of the railway train You'll meet without fail On the Midnight Mail The cat of the railway trail