[Verse 1] Mr Skiffington came in grinning, coat torn clean at the seam. He rolled in with a brass-button swagger, like he’d stepped out of a dream. He slapped down a coin on the counter, said, “Save me a seat near the fire.” But his boots kept time with the trouble, and his eyes were already higher. [Pre-Chorus] Oh, the room held its breath When he barked, “Make it loud!” Hands on the table, now All the mean boys joined the crowd. [Chorus] Mr Skiffington, go! Mr Skiffington, roar! Turn that broke-down floor To a stampede war. Mr Skiffington, go! Mr Skiffington, sing! When the whole place shakes, You can hear him grin. [Verse 2] He danced with a butcher’s daughter, twirled her straight through the smoke. Told the judge at the back of the doorway, “Tonight, I’m a terrible joke.” Then he winked at the fiddler, “Brother, give me the one that bites.” So the whole damn hall went swinging like a wagon on a knife. [Pre-Chorus] Oh, the lamps swung wild And the rafters thumped along. One sharp cry from the cheap seats And the night turned into song. [Chorus] Mr Skiffington, go! Mr Skiffington, roar! Turn that broke-down floor To a stampede war. Mr Skiffington, go! Mr Skiffington, sing! When the whole place shakes, You can hear him grin. [Bridge] [Accordion and handclaps break] He kissed the moon on the window, He cursed the bones in his hand. Said, “If I’m doomed, then I’m dancing, if I’m gone, I’m gone in a band.” [Chorus] Mr Skiffington, go! Mr Skiffington, roar! Turn that broke-down floor To a stampede war. Mr Skiffington, go! Mr Skiffington, sing! When the whole place shakes, You can hear him grin. [Outro] So stomp, you saints and sinners, til the heelboards start to crack. Mr Skiffington’s still coming and he never once looks back.
