"Pick a Box"

Hi there, this is a verse I put together at the request of Hobart DJ Brett Marley a few years back. At the time I was reciting over the airways on a Friday morning and Brett asked me to put something together for his old mate Dennis, the Funeral Director up the valley. It is written as if Brett is telling the story. Hope you enjoy.

PS...Marles should not get outa this one, hey?

"G’DAY, ITS OLD MAN MARLEY HERE..."

I’D BEEN FEELIN PRETTY CROOK YOU KNOW
SHAKING LIMBS, LOSS OF VISION, GOUT, YES THE FLAMIN LOT
SO I RANG MY MATE DENNIS MURPHY
TO SEE JUST WHAT HE HAD IN STOCK
MURPH SAID “DROP IN MARLES AND HAVE A LOOK –
AND BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR SOCKS”
HE SAID I SOUNDED LIKE DEATH ON LEGS
“SO COME ON DOWN AND PICK – A – BOX! “

MURPH SAID THE TIME WAS RIGHT
ONE SHOULD NOT LEAVE IT TOO LATE
IF I LEAVE THE DECISION ANY LONGER
IT COULD BE MY LIFE’S BIGGEST MISTAKE
SO INTO THE SHOWROOM I WAS USHERED
TO BE SURROUNDED BY LOTS OF WOOD
THE COLOURS AND DESIGNS WERE MOST CONFUSING
TO PICK – A – BOX…..I WAS NOT SO SURE I COULD.

DENNIS RECKONED PICKING A BOX WAS VERY EASY
JUST CLIMB IN AND TRY ONE OUT
IT’S THE LENGTH – BREADTH – AND WIDTH THAT MATTERS
IT’S NOT THE COLOUR OR THE COST YOU WORRY ABOUT
SO IT WAS OFF WITH MY BOOTS AND INTO A BOX
WHERE I LAID MY TIRED OLD BODY DOWN
AND WHEN MURPH CLOSED THE LID SO GENTLE
I IMAGINED MY SOUL WAS HEAVEN BOUND.

YEAH, I MET UP WITH AN ANGEL
STANDING AT THE PEARLY GATE
SHE SAID “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MARLEY? “
“YOU ARE RUNNING AWFULLY LATE –
WE EXPECTED YOU SOME TIME BACK
YES, THE DAY AFTER YOUR JOUST WITH DOUG
YOU WERE NOT EXPECTED TO SURVIVE
WHEN YOU STAGGERED HOME FROM THE PUB! “

NOW THIS ANGEL WAS ABOUT TO UNLOCK THE GATE
BUT MY SUBCONSCIOUS WAS STILL ALERT
DENNIS COULD NOT BELIEVE HIS EYES
WHEN FROM THAT ROSEWOOD BOX I BURST
OUT THE DOOR AND DOWN THE ROAD
THE GROUND NEVER IN CONTACT WITH MY SOCKS…..
AND NOW I DARE NOT ANSWER MY PHONE
JUST IN CASE IT’S MURPHY – WANTING ME TO PICK – A - BOX.

PENNED AT THE REQUEST OF BRETT MARLEY
FOR HIS MATE DENNIS MURPHY
“FUNERAL DIRECTOR EXTRAORDINAIRE”