Knife and Scissors Man

©Graham Penney

In Southampton's former days, when Grandma was a maid,
And people used to ride the horse-drawn tram,
Every other Friday came a man to ply his trade
It was Pedlar Jack, the knife and scissors man

Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll sharpen them for you,
They'll last until I come around again,
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll make them good as new,
Broken knives and broken scissors I can mend.

Through the streets he'd wander, his living for to earn,
His funny old machine upon his back,
He'd set it down and pedal it, to make the grindstone turn,
That's why people called him Pedlar Jack…..
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll sharpen them for you,
They'll last until I come around again,
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll make them good as new,
Broken knives and broken scissors I can mend.

He covered all the streets between the Bargate and the Pier,
He'd doff his hat to every passer-by,
And at the Duke of Wellington he'd take a glass of beer,
Then Bugle Street would echo to his cry….
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll sharpen them for you,
They'll last until I come around again,
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll make them good as new,
Broken knives and broken scissors I can mend.

Customers he never lacked, rich and poor alike,
They always knew they'd get their money's worth,
If his machine had only been a pennyfarthing bike,
He might have cycled halfway round the earth….
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll sharpen them for you,
They'll last until I come around again,
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll make them good as new,
Broken knives and broken scissors I can mend.

How the children loved to see the grindstone meet the blade,
It always seemed to take them by surprise,
They'd sit awhile in wonder, and watch the sparks cascade,
Mirroring the twinkle in his eyes….
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll sharpen them for you,
They'll last until I come around again,
Bring your knives and scissors out, I'll make them good as new,
Broken knives and broken scissors I can mend.