John has no fear but twelve brothers Born within one year of each other Their mum and dad Are gone so long You see it in The scars on their foreheads A bunch of boys A bunch of noise They're running all the Back alley trouble With their knives out John with a baby in his arm Shadows will fade in to do harm Their mum and dad Are gone so long You see it in The scars on their foreheads A bunch of boys A bunch of noise They're running all the Back alley trouble With their knives out And in his dreams His mum calls and says Johnny, my sweet darling I haven't been home But I want you to know that I care about you deeply And I'm sorry Ain't that something And when the shadows fading out He knives another coppers eye out