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 longingly

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 heart 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 coin he made



Then two gentlemen called on 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 and caught a train

Not to be seen in the town again

The little bombardier