Image: Lee Campbell, ‘PITCH FACE’, pins and mixed media on canvas (2005) 

When I was young, JD and coke

Tried acting macho, what a joke

My friends knew that was mirrors smoke

‘Be yourself Lee, don’t cut him out!’

 

Whilst acting macho, breath it stink

Jack Daniels was my favourite drink

I gave right in to his wink wink

Lost all control, was on the brink

Control of pins, down kitchen sink

I’d spew my guts, that made me think

Now different drug tickles me pink

I do my best to cut Jack out … BUT

 

There’s a beast in me, he’s lurking

It don’t make any sense,

He comes out when I least expect it

He’s watching through the fence

The beast brings out this side of me

that causes self-offence

Tried hard to beat him out of me

but the beast is too intense

 

There’s a beast in me, he’s lurking

His beat is so immense

Tried hard to make amends with him

but I cannot recompense

There’s a beast in me, he’s smirking

I like he don’t make sense

When I think I’ve put his beats to bed,

nah, the beast is present tense

 

Don’t slack, don’t take my eye off ball

And don’t just mean on his tackle

Inside me though can hear Jack call

I’ll get you beast and cut you out!