The Utmost For The Highest

A soldier boy from Jesmond
Down south in billets on White Lane
Spied a girl beneath the streetlamp
"Who goes there?" Her name was Madelene

It was the utmost for the highest
He lay his promises all down
They kissed beneath the branches of the lime trees
On the edge of that military town...

He asked her father for her hand
Obligingly he gave
They both survived the war
To see the V.E. day parade

It was the utmost for the highest
So many laid their lives down
They bought a cottage down that lane
On the edge of that military town

Working for a man
Took his chances overseas
Couldn't stop him taking chances
Turned into a disease

It was the utmost for the highest
He started laying his money down
In the casinos and the card halls
Far away from that cottage near that military town

And they caught him cooking books
She'd find the money was all gone
Sent for suits for his sons wedding
Came back singing the same song

It was the utmost for the highest
She ignored that knocking sound
Back late from working on the telephone exchange
In that military town

And he got sick and took to bed
And lying on his bed of death
He looked into her eyes and said
"I've wasted my life"
She shook her head as he took his last breath

It was the utmost for the highest
We laid his body down
To rest beneath the branches
Of those trees on the edge of that military town

Life is a 'Rough and Tumble'
The name of a horse that I once chose
From The Post upon your knee
I wonder if it came in on the nose

It was the utmost for the highest
Can't seem to lay that memory down
As I walk the shady lanes
On the edge of this military town