OXFORD GIRL

John Jones / Ian Telfer 
Complete Music Ltd 1988   

First released on:  Wide Blue Yonder, 1988

I met a man whose brother said 
he knew a man who knew the Oxford girl

is it true what you hear 
did he do it out of fear? 
was the day drawing near when a child would start to show? 
was it rage or shame or the damage to his name? 
was it something worse, does anybody know?

did she pay a price 
for making them look twice? 
like a glimpse of paradise 
across a dull and bitter land? 
did she pass them by 
did she dare to meet their eye? 
did she scorn them all 
and did they understand?

a grief to her father
did she really leave him? 
a lover to her brother
yes we all believe him 
temptation to her betters
no better than she should be 
unfaithful to her lover
he always knew she would be

she says: I never had a chance 
to prove them wrong 
my time was short, the story long 
no I never had a chance 
to prove them wrong 
it's always them that write the song

did he go to ground 
was the suitcase ever found? 
did the police come swarming round 
on a trail already cold? 
did he lead them a dance 
did he ran away to France? 
did he shop himself before the day was old?

o she was bound to lose 
if she set her face to choose 
they never could excuse her 
for stirring up their fears 
she was much too young 
now the earth has stopped her tongue 
you can hear the voices 
calling down the years

she says: I never had a chance 
to prove them wrong 
my time was short, the story long 
no I never had a chance 
to prove them wrong 
it's always them that write the song

I met a man whose brother said 
he knew a man who knew the Oxford girl