Let Me Die A Youngman's Death

Let me die a youngman's death

not a clean and inbetween


the sheets holywater death


not a famous-last-words


peaceful out of breath death



When I'm 73


and in constant good tumour


may I be mown down at dawn


by a bright red sports car


on my way home


from an allnight party



Or when I'm 91


with silver hair


and sitting in a barber's chair


may rival gangsters


with hamfisted tommyguns burst in


and give me a short back and insides



Or when I'm 104


and banned from the Cavern


may my mistress


catching me in bed with her daughter


and fearing for her son


cut me up into little pieces


and throw away every piece but one



Let me die a youngman's death


not a free from sin tiptoe in


candle wax and waning death


not a curtains drawn by angels borne


'what a nice way to go' death

Roger McGough