Poor John Druitt Singer/Songwriter

John Druitt was named as a suspect in the 1888 Jack the Ripper murder case. He was already dead when named as a suspect, having drowned himself in the Thames. Although he was named as a suspect there appears to be no firm evidence to support that accusation and some evidence that suggests that it is very unlikely that he could have been the killer. Instead, it seems like he was a handy way for the police to suggest that they had closed the case ...

Poor John Druitt

Oranges and lemons,

Say the bells of St. Clement?s.

(Verse 1)

Dark streets of London

Oh so long ago
Clip of hooves on cobbles
The fog's drawn in low,
Street vendor shouting
?Hear ye the news
Jack's struck again
And this time it's two!?

(Verse 2) 

First had her throat slit
But nothing much more
No pieces missing
Unlike victim four,
Second of the night
Jack had more time
To slice and rip
At the scene of the crime.

(Pre chorus) 

The cops and the press had names in the frame
Some destined to get their five minutes of fame
There were cutthroats and poisoners
Usual suspects to blame

But Inspector MacNaughten threw out a name.

(Chorus)

John Druitt, John Druitt 

Poor John Druitt 

Pulled from the Thames 

With rocks in his pockets, 

John Druitt, John Druitt 

Poor John Druitt 

A handy scapegoat 

But the facts don?t fit

(Bridge)

There are men that be given to crazy thoughts

Be they in the asylum or in the courts
Well, John got six six sixes on the cricket pitches
But there weren't no Devil in him. 

Sure, he fitted the description 

Had a self-proclaimed affliction 

But the facts don?t stack 

Time stamps don?t match 

Blackheath to Bournemouth 

Travels to Dorset 

Matches reported 

And trains boarded 

That left little room for late night prowling

(Chorus)

John Druitt, John Druitt

Poor John Druitt 

Pulled from the Thames 

With rocks in his pockets, 

John Druitt, John Druitt 

Poor John Druitt 

A handy scapegoat 

But the facts don?t fit 

(Verse 3) 

Wrong part of London 

No Whitechapel abode 

No hist?ry of violence 

Has ever been proved, 

Dismissed from his job 

Reason unknown 

Fearing insanity 

He died alone

(Outro)

John didn't do it
Poor John Druitt
Jack slit throats
Some say wrote notes
But John didn't do it

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!

Written by Simon Wright

(February 2018)