I’VE PACKED UP MY BAGS

I’VE PACKED UP MY BAGS

by

Matt McGinn

I’ve packed up my bags, I must go, I must go

Far away from the town of Glasgow

I’m headed for Swindon

Or maybe for London

In search of a living I’ll go

My name it is Patrick McPhee

And the Gallowgate folk all know me

It’s there I’d have lingered

But I was glue fingered

And landed up in Barlinnie

The reason that I had to fall

I stole from a man they call Gall

I thought it was queer

That he had so much gear

While I hadn’t any at all

I’ve packed up my bags, I must go, I must go

Far away from the town of Glasgow

I’m headed for Swindon

Or maybe for London

In search of a living I’ll go

I went from Barlinnie today

To the Labour Exchange right away

I said to the clerk

I was looking for work

With half decent hours and good pay

Said he, ‘You might find it quite hard’

And I saw what he wrote in my card

‘From that day to this ‘un

McPhee’s been in prison’

And that simply meant I was barred

I’ve packed up my bags, I must go, I must go

Far away from the town of Glasgow

I’m headed for Swindon

Or maybe for London

In search of a living I’ll go

A girl before I went inside

I promised to make a bride

Ah, but she wouldn’t wait

At the Barlinnie gate

For that was so undignified

So now I’m a poor man but free

Though headed far away, I must be

Where I’ll find a living

Though there’s no forgiving

A man that’s been in Barlinnie

I’ve packed up my bags, I must go, I must go

Far away from the town of Glasgow

I’m headed for Swindon

Or maybe for London

In search of a living I’ll go

I’ve packed up my bags, I must go, I must go

Far away from the town of Glasgow

I’m headed for Swindon

Or maybe for London

In search of a living I’ll go