The children sit upon the stairs    High above a valley of tears    Don't let them see you crying that way oh no    Oh no Joe Porterhouse    Is not gone forever    He'll be back another day    Don't let them see you crying that way       Please don't wake him let him sleep    It's a moment she can keep    Like an old bus ticket or a photograph    Resting on the mantlepiece    While for the wicked there is no peace    She says it's not his time to go    Why we were nearly lovers years ago    Now what is left for me    Among the broken branches of the family tree       Heart like an anchor    Arms like cable    He stood all alone on an iron turntable    Don't let them see you crying that way oh no       The sun beats down    It's cracking the flags    Boys who should know better    Are stamping out fags    Don't let them see you laughing that way       Please don't wake him let him sleep    It's a moment she can keep    Like an old bus ticket or a photograph    Resting on the mantlepiece    While for the wicked there is no peace    She says it's not his time to go    Why we were nearly lovers years ago    Now what is left for me    Among the broken branches of the family tree      Oh no Joe Porterhouse    Is not gone forever    He'll be back another day    Don't let them see you crying that way