I walk along the strand   To catch the late ride home.   Shuttle through the evening gloom   Knowing I forgot to phone.   The back door's open.   There's a chill blowing in.   Take your warm hands off me.   Let the night begin.   Shush your mouth.   Listen to me.   I won't say nothing ---   Just let me be your   Toad in the hole.      Kicking through the wet leaves lying   All along the station road.   Past tired graffitti wailing,   Raw emotion to unload.   There's coal in the fireplace   And money in the bank too.   Deep-pile carpets, tinsel wallpaper.   Still got the back room to do.   Don't be late.   Got a day's work behind me.   Feel a little devastated   But my nights are assigned to you.      Toad in the hole.      No tom-cat creeping, now   Could ever be so bold   To hang around our place tonight   When I come in from the cold.   There's a straight-six in the garage   And some fine wine to cool.   Labour-savers in the kitchen,   Room in the garden for a pool.   Shush your mouth.   Let imagination run   Here in bed-sit heaven   Where all the best wishing's done   To warm toad in the hole.