"St Just Fire Brigade"

St Just Fire Brigade are volunteers

But when they are called out

The Butcher, Baker and Candlestick maker

All turn out for a "Shout."

One time they put out a fire

In a Penzance Square,

They say they put the fire out

Before Penzance crew got there!

They'd turn out for anything

Cat up a tree, or stuck under a log,

A puppy down a mine shaft

Or a heifer stuck in a bog!

Peter Bennetts prize heifer

Up to her belly in marsh.

And 'im an' his lads couldn't budge 'er

Oh Lord! Peters comments were harsh!

So they called the boys out with their engine

Duckboards and sheer-legs and toys

Slings and sheave blocks for pulling

They knew what they were doin' those boys!

They heaved and they splashed and got muddy

The heifer got frightened and guess,

Yeah, frightened cattle always

Add a good contribution to mess.

Things got smelly and mucky

Neighbours arrived to lend hand

And with much swearin' and sweating

Eventually they got her to land.

Poor heifer stood shaking and trembling

The boys started cleaning their tack

Peter said to his son Johnathan

"Get a bottle of rum! Hurry back!"

All the firemen looked hopefull

And slowed down what they was doin'

They'd earned a drink of any mans rum

But they didn't know what was ensuein'.

The Firemen all looked thirsty

The bottle arrived like a zephyr

Peter Bennett took one long sniff

An' poured it all down the throat of the Heifer!

Faces have never dropped further

As they watched the gurgling grog

They saved Bennetts heifer that day

But Peter, they threw back in the bog!

Copyright © Res JFB 25th February 2008