[Verse 1]
Am G
Ward 8 at the QE, somwhere down Woodville
Am Em
Smokey grey Thursday, take out your sword
Am C
Stewie was born, there was blood on the sheets
G E7
Doctor was drunk and the sister was bored
[Verse 2]
Am G
Home was a weatherboard housing trust unit
Am Em
A low cyclone fence with a sparse gravel drive
Am C
Dad was a truckie from Adelaide to Melbourne
G E7
Two trips a week just to keep them alive
[Verse 3]
Am G
First sentence for Stewie was going to school
Am Em
In prison grey trousers he walked in the yard
Am C
His Mum shed a tear at his vaselined pushback
G E7
Clutching a ruler his name on a card
[Chorus]
Dm Am G Am
Step forward Stewart Bedson the headmaster said
G Am
It seemed like Stewie was always in strife
Dm Am G Am
Step forward Stewart Bedson the magistrate said
G F E7 Am
This time 10 years, next time life
[Verse 4]
Am G
Grades 1-7 passed pretty quickly
Am Em
Detention and caning and one million lines
Am C
Stewie could write just enough to get by
G E7
Stewie could read all the shoplifting signs
[Verse 5]
Am G
There was a bond for a biro, a fine for some fags
Am Em
Another kids bike leading up to a car
Am C
Photographs, fingerprints and juvenile courthouse
G E7
A year in McNallies for going too far
[Chorus]
Dm Am G Am
Step forward Stewart Bedson the magistrate said
G Am
Over pine panneled wood leant the face of the law
Dm Am G Am
We think you're a threat to property and justice
G F E7 Am
3 years up the creek while we make sure
[Verse 6]
Am G
Robbery and violence and retaliation
Am Em
For beatings and bashings at the hands of the screws
Am C
Time in and time out time and again
G E7
Is this what they mean by paying your dues
[Verse 7]
Am G
Some people have plenty while others have none
Am Em
For the same working week seen year after year
Am C
Worked over by coppers for tipping the scales
G E7
Life wasn't meant to be easy
[Chorus]
Dm Am G Am
Step forward Stewart Bedson the magistrate said
G Am
Over pine panneled wood leant the face of the law
Dm Am G Am
We think you're a threat to property and justice
G F E7 Am
3 years up the creek while we make sure
[Verse 8]
Am G
Ward 8 at the QE, somwhere down Woodville
Am Em
Smokey grey Thursday, take out your sword
Am C
Stewie was born, there was blood on the sheets
G E7
Doctor was drunk and the sister was bored