War made him a soldier
Little Frankie Mear
Peace left him a loser

The little bombardier
Lines of worry appeared with age
Unskilled hands that knew no trade


Spent his time in the picture house
The little bombardier

Frankie drank his money
The little that he made
Told his woes to no man

Friendless, lonely days
Then one day, in the ABC
Four bright eyes gazed longinly

At the ice-cream in the hand of
The little bombardier
Sunshine entered our Frankie's days


Gone his worries, his hopeless maze
His life was fun and his life was full of joy

Two young children had changed his aims
He gave them toffees and played their games
He brought them presents with every coins he made

Then two gentlemen called him
Asked him for his name
Why was he friends with the children

Were they just a game?
Leave them alone or we'll get sore
We've had blokes like you in the station before

The hand of authority said "no more" to
The little bombardier
Packed his bags, his heart in pain

Wiped a tear, caught a train
Not to be seen in the town again