No Mice

Alternative lyric by Sylfest Muldal, to the Atkin/James song 'No Dice'.

I tried hard to be useful
But no mice
With no teeth left I couldn't catch a beetle
With these old lungs I couldn't even meeoh
So yesterday they asked the vet's advice
He barely looked and then his voice went low
I tried to purr, my owners turned to go
And what hands held me while he fixed the needle
I just don't know
Just another eight more lives to go
Just another eight more lives to go
A few-ee-eww more li-iy-i-iy-ives to go

I gazed out of the bedroom as the finch
Sang in the cherry tree without suspicion
Too high above the street, but even so
I measured out my ambush to the inch
The branch gave way, I tumbled down below
I'm sore, but nothing broken, get up slow
Then all at once this bus looms in my vision
I just don't know…
Just another few more lives to go...

I saw across the beach in the cartoon
That smiling mouse the public knows as Jerry
As he planned out which next grenade to throw
I stalked the bastard, aiming my harpoon,
Got almost there - one more step on tip-toe!
But the whole routine was fixed-up from the go
And if they'll ever find my bits to bury
I just don't know
Just another few more lives to go...

Yesterday my left eye opened wide
And for the first time saw my sibs and Mother
And then two boys whose giant hands came low
In a bag of stones they pushed us all, and tied
With a fumbled-from-excitement hitch and bow
We swung above the well, then they let go
And if my good eye saw more than the other
I just don't know.
Just another few more lives to go...

Yesterday I paced the yard all night
While you, my boss, stayed up to write this story
Curse after deadly curse and blow on blow
Excuse me, sir, but how can this be right
That while I suffer, you just shake your head and go
To weave your pretty tale from all my woe?
There's no mice, and for you there'll be no glory
You just don't know
Just another few more lives to go...

Pete Atkin icon

back to Pete Atkin Discography