Marc Almond - Old Jack's Charms

It was in the tattoo parlour
Where he engraved their names
Words a winding round his shoulders
Reminders now he's older

In the magic of the parlour
Down his arm unwinds a story
Love and hate and Mum and Dad
In flames of hope and glory

A mermaid and a schooner Tells us he was once at sea
A heart pierced by an arrow
Tells us once more in love was he
And a dragon spitting fire
He's forgotten what that's for
But tattooed on his mind
Is a reminder of the war

He gave up tattooing lovers
Where no room for any others