The Thirsty Old Boy

An empty beer bottle on the timber bench beside him the bloke known as the thirsty old boy
The old man a young man found dead in a bus shelter as a winter dawn broke in the sky
The weather of late had been chilly, the night it was frosty and cold
And the elements proved that bit too much for one three with eighty years old.

As a young man in the early forties he was decorated for his bravery
For his part in the great war in Europe and few young men as brave as he,
Back then he was a revered fellow and he came home to a big parade
But from there 'twas downhill to oblivion and from the limelight he did fade.

He sold his war medals for liquor 'tis said for twenty four cans of beer
The last ten years of his life were tragic yet not one for him shed a tear
It's been said that his world fell to pieces on the day that his wife passed away
Then he turned to alcohol for solace his lot might be our lot one day.

The last post was not played at his grave and no head stone to mark where he lay
He is the forgotten old soldier but that's life some people might say
Still he too had his moments of glory and when put to the test he was brave
Yet none even care to remember the pauper in the pauper's grave.

On warm summer evenings in the parkland he sat and drank beer in the shade
A gentle and inoffensive old fellow aggression he never displayed
Yet he was one who had known insult and sad and alone he did die
And not one shed one tear of sorrow at the passing of the thirsty old boy.