Down at the shell shed, the boys are picking at their pearls
The hole in my mitten lets the rain get in
I bought 22 ounces from the petrol park, waiting at the light
I'm never going to make it back in time

So Geraldine and me can begin, before Mr. Raymond and his Japanese slippers comes creeping in

I sit with the fan on my face and sip Shandies all day
I learned to sleep standing up so I don't have to make a bed
No tobacco for my rolling papers, warm water in my cup
But I have to wait all morning
For Geraldine and me can begin, before Mr. Raymond and his Japanese slippers comes creeping in

Loaded up with Turkey carpets and green glass diamonds
I drove back and forth for five long rolling moons
And every day and every night I thought of back at home
And I couldn't get the notion out of my head
But before Geraldine and me could begin, Mr. Raymond and his Japanese slippers comes creeping in

Well everything is always a little late
And tripping on those Japanese slippers seems to be my fate

It was my job to cut down all the poplar trees
And I'd sit on the stumps and listen to the finches
And look out at the field and eat honey out of the jar
And wonder why it always seemed
Before Geraldine and me could begin, Mr. Raymond and his Japanese slippers would come creeping in