The Knocker Up



Who’s knocking on the window I heard my sister say
I don’t care who it is, I wish they’d go away
My grandad said “go to sleep you kids”; “the call was just for me”
As I looked out the window a strange sight I did see
It was Neville Lester’s dad with a big pole in his hand
He was tapping on next doors window, like he was in a band

So later I did ask Aunt Fran what was that knocking about
It was to wake up grandad, we knew he’d be right out
He had a few pints extra, on Sunday with his mate
We knew there was a danger, this morning he’d be late

Mr Lester is the knocker up, that is his second job
He does it after night shift, to make an extra bob
He really is a watchman, at Dicky Howorth’s mill
So when he first gets home from work, if people pay the bill
He knocks them up for work, unless they say they’re ill

He has some really long poles that bedroom windows reach
He taps on people’s windows, tapping out his beat
But if there is no response, he really makes a din
They tell me that in one house, he knocked the window in

If it wasn’t for the ‘knocker up’, people would be late
Then they wouldn’t have a job, and they’d be in a state
It doesn’t cost much money, a full week for two bob
It really isn’t, very much, to save your rotten job.

I know we have alarm clocks, but they can sometimes stop
One day they’ll be no knocker ups, because well have good clocks.

Ken Phoenix