Springheeled Jack
Spring-heeled Jack was a striking figure in Victorian Folklore. He had superhuman powers, being able to leap tremendous heights and was terrifying and unpleasant in appearance, having claws, cold clammy hands, protruding eyes and so forth. If you want to read more about him you can check out the Wikipedia article.
Since writing the song in 1999, there has been a further sighting in 2012 in Stoneleigh, which would have made him around 200 years old. So maybe his is a demon from Hell after all. Certainly someone you wouldn't want to meet on a dark night.
It started in eighteen thirty seven
In Peckham some people say
There's no-one alive now who remembers your face
But we all remember your terrible name
Chorus
Spring-heeled Jack, Spring-heeled Jack
Leaping over hedges, with claws that scratch
Breathing fire at your victims you laughed at their cries
As you took in their torment with your protruding eyes
You wore a tight suit made of oil-skin
You wore a helmet and a black cape
You were more like the penguin than batman
As you made your daring and leaping escape
chorus
Some thought you were of nobility
With sick humour and malice as well
But some feared that you were a spirit, so foul
A demon from the very darkest reaches of hell
chorus
An army sentry went reeling as your clammy hands
Slip slappered all over his face
He tried to shoot you but you leapt into the night
With even his bullets you easily outpaced
chorus
For over one hundred years no more was heard of you
'Til it was reported that you’d surfaced again
In Herefordshire a salesman relates
He was slapped in the face by a strange leaping man
chorus