Billy Flynn of Bethnal Green

The hardest man I'd ever seen
Was Billy Flynn of Bethnal Green
He was born to be a champion
Light on his feet with a solid jaw
His right hook left you on the floor
Billy held the ring to ransom
An Irish family's only son
Proud of the fighter he'd become
But every night, he'd pray to Jesus
"Lord, give me strength, enough to fight
I swear to God I think I'd die
If they ever knew my secret"

But his daddy never knew him
And mummy looked right through him, so

What they don't know
Is Billy Flynn's been dancing down in Soho
You should've seen her
Born a brawler
But on Friday nights beneath the lights, they'd call her Lady Athena
You should've seen her

Billy bound his broken bones
And washed his nails in acetone
Every Monday when he'd wake up
For fifteen years, he lived a double life
King of the ring, but on Friday night
He hid his bruises under makeup

And the boys say, "Bill, whenever
We're down the pub, you never show"

But what they don't know
Is Billy Flynn's been dancing down in Soho
You should've seen her
Born a brawler
But on Friday nights beneath the lights, they'd call her Lady Athena
You should've seen her

The bravest thing I'd ever seen
Was Billy Flynn down Bethnal Green
In stilettos at the bus stop
Ten long years had passed us by
But there she stood with a swollen eye
I said, "I thought you'd hung your gloves up"
She said, "I was walking home alone last night
Three geezers tried to start a fight
They thought I'd run, they were mistaken
They saw a damsel in distress
Alas, a boxer in a dress
Left them battered on the pavement"

I said, "Some things will never change ya
Bill, don't be a stranger, don't"

'Cause we all know
That Billy Flynn's been dancing down in Soho
You should've seen her
Born a brawler
But on Friday nights beneath the lights, they'd call her Lady Athena
You should've seen her