[Intro]
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl

[Verse 1]
Is it true what you hear?
Did he do it out of fear?
Was the day drawing near
When a child would start to show?
Was it rage or shame
Or the damage to his name?
Was it something worse?
Does anybody know?

[Verse 2]
Did she pay the price
For making them look twice?
Like a glimpse of paradise
Across a dull and bitter land?
Did she pass them by?
Did she dare to meet thеir eye?
Did she scorn thеm all
And did they understand?
[Bridge]
A grief to her father
Did she really leave him?
A lover to her brother
Yes, we all believe him
Temptation to her betters
No better than she should be
Unfaithful to her lover
He always knew she would be

[Chorus]
She said, "I never had a chance
To prove them wrong
My time was short, the story long
No, I never had a chance
To prove them wrong
It's always them who write the song"

[Post-Chorus]
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl

[Verse 3]
Did he go to ground?
Was the suitcase ever found?
Did the police come swarming round
On a trail already cold?
Did he lead them a dance?
Did he run away to France?
Or did he shop himself
Before the day was old?
[Verse 4]
Oh, she was bound to lose
If she set her face to choose
They never could excuse her
For stirring up their fears
She was much too young
Now the earth has stopped her tongue
You could hear the voices
Calling down the years

[Chorus]
She said, "I never had a chance
To prove them wrong
My time was short, the story long
No, I never had a chance
To prove them wrong
It's always them who write the song
No, I never had a chance
To prove them wrong
My time was short, the story long
No, I never had a chance
To prove them wrong
It's always them who write the song"

[Outro]
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl
I met a man whose brother said
He knew a man who knew the Oxford girl