Don't Close the Bar

Open the curtains, let in the cat
Put out the black bags, & that will be that,
The sun will still shine or the rain will still fall
The clouds will pass by still & that’s about all,
When it’s my funeral, springtime won’t wait
You’ll always be beautiful, & I’ll always be late,
Put on your best dress or come as you are
But whatever you do, don’t close the bar...

There’s De Kroeg & Cross Lances, the Beconsfield Arms,
The Bell & the Nelson, the Cafe Notre Dame,
The Gasthof Zur Post & the Cafe Ronsard,
The Hare & The Hounds & the Stove & the Star,
The lights on the harbour, your old friend the moon,
A full pint of Fullers, a new Pelforth Brune,
A half of Retsina, a good cafe noir
A handful of peanuts, a nightful of stars
Don’t close the bar....

Here’s some suggestions of things you could do
Put on some punkrock & dance round the room,
Put on some Piaf, then have some Brel
& the best sex you can think of in your favourite hotel,
Don’t go to Tescos, blow it all in FNAC
But wherever you do go it won’t bring me back
So just keep on going, take this guitar,
Recycle my songs with the bottles & jars
Just don’t close the bar...