Verse 1 Back in the seventies, kitchen wall, Hung a metal box like a fixture and all, Rectangular, grey, screwed in tight, Dad’s daily habit, morning to night. Twenty packs lined up neat as a dream, Craven A’s in a cigarette machine. Pre-Chorus Drop a coin, hear that click Smoke salvation on demand, real quick. Chorus As long as you had the money, you’d never run dry, Cigarettes on tap.... oh my, oh my. No money? .... Nah, that weren’t a block, He just knew how to pick the lock. Helping himself from the family stash, Settled the books when he found some cash. Verse 2 If the purse was light and the need was strong, A screwdriver knew what was right from wrong. Pop the door, great big grin, Smokes galore, another win. We'd think, "You better put it back when you can,” Before the company man turns up in the van. Pre-Chorus He’d whistle, smile, refill the tray, Never knew Dad had been there yesterday. Chorus As long as you had the money, you’d never run dry, Cigarettes on tap... oh my, oh my. No money? ... No panic, no alarm, Just a little home-grown, victimless harm. Crack it open, shut it tight, Make it look honest by morning light. Bridge Health warnings came later on, Back then it was ashtrays till the dawn. Kids learned maths counting change, And ethics lived in a very grey range. Final Chorus Yeah, the seventies taught us survival skills, Like kitchen-wall smokes and unpaid bills. And a Craven A machine that needed no staff, Just a little crime and a few laughs. Outro Rectangular box, rusty and wise, Probably still owes him a pack or five........
