Lyrics
All the sailors they're all home from leave
All sailors have returned from their leave.
And everybody's waiting for them to try to deceive
Anticipation exists for attempts to deceive by the returning sailors.
The storekeepers have drawn their lace curtains bare
Storekeepers have exposed their lace curtains, revealing a sense of vulnerability or openness.
And all the women and the wee young girls all waiting there
Women and young girls are eagerly waiting.
Ooooh, but how the ladies pay
Expressing intrigue or anticipation about how women pay.
Oh, if they only knew how the ladies pay
Suggesting a lack of awareness about the true nature of how women pay.
Yeah, now, now, the ladies pay
Reiteration of the theme of how women pay in the absence of men.
Oh, when the men, they've gone away
Highlighting the context of women's actions when men are away.
Nobody is standing on upon the door
Emphasizing the absence of people at the door.
And nobody is feeding any of the poor
Pointing out a lack of care for the poor in the absence of men.
The poor, sick soldier lies in bed beside his girl
Describing a sick soldier contemplating a distant place while with his girl.
Thinking of another place on the other side of the world
Reflecting on the soldier's thoughts about a different part of the world.
Ah, how the ladies pay
Reiteration of the theme of how women pay in the absence of men.
Oh, oh, how the ladies pay
Expressing fascination or curiosity about how women pay.
When the men, they've gone away
Reiteration of the context of women's actions when men are away.
Oh, I wish, I knew how the ladies pay
Expressing a desire to understand the nature of how women pay.
Day and night, night and day
Highlighting the continuous nature of women's actions day and night.
How the ladies pay
Reiteration of the theme of how women pay day and night.
Day and night, night and day, night and day
Emphasizing the ongoing nature of women's actions day and night.
Ladies pay, now
Reiteration of the theme of how women pay, emphasizing the present moment.
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