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Long Grey Beard (Lyrics)

The Yeoman of Kent

 

In Kent, I hear, there lately did dwell
Long George, a yeoman by trade,
Plump, lively, and young, brisk, jolly, and strong,
Who fugelled the parson's fine maid.

(And her) ruffdom, ruffdom, frizledum madge,
Her hey rump, frizledum dee,
Rowze about, towze about, seek all the house about,
Under the bed was he.

It once fell out, on a moon-shiny night,
It seems his passion did move,
He thought fit to woo her and do something to her,
So great was the pow'r of his love. AND HER

At window then he softly did call,
"Sweet, amber Mary pray rise,
Since May Day our dancing, love, has been advancing,
And thou art my beautiful prize." WITH THY

"Fye, George," she cries, "those words are but toys,
For my master sleeps in his bed,
The door it is locked, and I'm in my smock-
Be gone, there's no more to be said." WITH MY

"The God of Love," says he, "wounded me
And bade me fly to thy arms.
I must and I will, this night have my fill
And taste of the luscious charms." OF THY

"Did love command, dear Georgy, thy hand?
For then it can be no sin."
He scrawling, she tugging, with hauling and lugging,
Through the window at last he got in. TO HER

They were so fierce they made the bed squeak.
The parson heard them, 'tis said,
Who, marriage obeying, and with his wife praying,
Found one did the same to his maid.

Then both soon arose, but Georgy was gone,
Who heard the noise that they made,
That they might not find him and otherwise bind him,
He screwed himself under the bed.

But 'twould not do, the wife found him out,
Brown bum blazed under the bed;
"Oh, Mary," she swore, "Godswoons you're a whore
And soon you in jail shall be laid.”

The parson cries, "You wicked, young dog,
How durst you do such a folly?
For to save strife, I may preach to my wife,
I sometimes sing anthems with Molly,"

Then out he pulled tall George in his shirt
And gave him with bedstaff some blows,
Then sent him away to his farm before day
Without ever a rag of his clothes.

And her ruffdum ruffdom, ruffdom, frizledum madge,
Her hey rump, frizledum dee,
Rowze about, towze about, seek all the house about,
Under the bed was he.

------------------------------------

Monday Morning


Oh, as I was out walking
One morning in the spring
I heard me a fair damsel
And so sweetly she did sing
She was out a-milking
And this she did sing
"I am going to get me married
Next Monday morning."    

Oh and next Sunday night
Well, I means me to prepare
I means to curl up me locks
I means to tie back my hair
Six pretty maidens,
So neat and so trim
They're going to dance at me wedding
Next Monday morning.

Oh, but next Monday night       
When I goes to my bed
So close to my true love
I will lay down my head
If a maiden I remain
When I rise me up again
Well, I'll wish that I'd ne'er seen
That Monday morning.

"Oh, and where is your cottage
Fair maiden I recall"
"I live in yon house
And I'm the fairest of all
I live in yon cottage
At the foot of yon hill
And I'm going to get me married
Next Monday morning."

"Oh, but fifteen year old        
Is far too young for to marry
For a year or two longer
I would have you to tarry
For young men they are false
And false vows do fulfil
So lass, put off your wedding
Next Monday morning."        

"But you talk like a man
With no sense and no skill
For three years I've now tarried
All against me own will
I have made me a vow
Which I mean me to fulfil
And I'm going to get me married
Next Monday morning.

And me true love he's given me
Two fine things
He's given me two precious jewels
He's given me adorning
Two precious jewels
He's given me adorning
So I shall look so brightly
Next Monday morning."

Oh, as I was out walking
One morning in the spring
I heard me a fair damsel
And so sweetly she did sing
She was out a-milking
And this she did sing
"I am going to get me married
Next Monday morning."

------------------------------------

Suit of Corduroy


Most folks when they grows up
At times they do presume,
Of things that have gone by
It pleases them to allude
But, I remember when
I never felt so gay
Till the day that I got birched
In me suit of corduroy
    Then around me, young and old around
    If ever you wish to join me
    Ever you wish to buy a suit
    You'll buy the corduroy.

When Father come home at night
If drunk we used to rob
And in the course of a week or two
Us had us seven bob
Me mother says unto me, "Jack,
Come with me, me boy
We'll go to John Spree's shop
And buy a suit of corduroy"
Then around me....

We soon picked out the suit
The best that we could find
It fitted very well in front
But 'ellish slack behind
"Oh, never mind," the shopman said
For he is a growing boy
And I warrant his little ass'll
Soon fit out his corduroy"
Then around me......

I felt quite proud and then
Me mother she paid the brunt
It had two pockets by the side
And a little hole in front
As I was walking down the street
The people they did say
How very well he looked
In his suit of corduroy
Then around me....

One day I was taken ill
I told me mother me fault
She says, "Me boy, you must be ill"
And gave me a dose of salts
And as the salts began to work
The buttons began to fly
Before I'd got me trousers down
I'd ffththththed me corduroy
Then around me....

One day as I walked down the street
Some fella he cried out, "Jim
Let's go to the canal
And there we'll have a swim"
As we were swimmin' about,
Me and this other boy
Some fella runned away
With me suit of corduroy
Then around me....

As naked as I was born
I was drove home in a cab
And when me mother yeard've it
It damn near drove her mad.
Her says, "You silly little goose
You're a very naughty boy
But I never shall forget the day
When you fththththed your corduroy"
Well, around me......

------------------------------------

The Cuckoo's Nest


Oh, as I was a-walking one morning in May
I met a pretty fair maid and unto her did say
"To love I am inclined and to you I'll show me mind
If you'll let me put me hand upon your cuckoo's nest"

Ch:    Now some likes a girl who is pretty in the face
    And some likes a girl who's slender in the waist
    But give me a girl who'll wriggle and will twist
    At the bottom of her belly lies the cuckoo's nest.

"Oh, me darling," said she, "I will do no such thing,
For me mummy always told me it was committing a sin
Me maidenhead to lose and me body to be abused
So have no more to do with me cuckoo's nest"

"Oh, me darling," says I, "It's not committing a sin
For your common sense must tell you it is a pleasing thing
You were sent upon the earth to increase and do your best
And to send a man to heaven in your cuckoo's nest.

So soon she agreed, and soon we were in bed
And soon that pretty maiden, she had lost her maidenhead
We rolled all the night and we parted at daylight
And I left a little cuckoo in her cuckoo's nest.

------------------------------------

The Buxom Lass


Well, as I walkéd out one May morning
I spied a buxom lass
Belonging to some dairyman
She had a field of grass
And it grew between two mountains
At the foot of a running stream
So she hiréd me to cut it down
While the small birds sweetly sing.

Then I said, "Oh, my pretty fair maid
What wages do you give?
For mowing it is hard labour
Unless your scythe is good"
So she said, "Well if you do please me well
As I am lady clear
I will give you a crown an acre
And plenty of strong beer."

Then I said, "Oh, me pretty fair maid
I like your wages well
And if I mow your grass down
You shall say how it is done well
For me scythe it is in good order
Oh, it lately has been ground
So me bonny lass I'll mow your ass
Until it's down into the ground."

Then she said, "Oh, me handsome young man
And will you now begin
For me grass it is in good order
And I long to have it in
And it is such a pleasant weather
Oh, I long to clear the ground
So keep your scythe in order
To mow me meadow down.”

Then with courage like a lion
I entered in the field
But before I had mowed once away the grass
Oh I was obliged to yield
But before I had mowed once away the grass
Me scythe being bent and broke
Then she said, "Oh, me handsome young man
You're tired of your work."

Then she said, "Oh me handsome young man
You're tired of your work.
For mowing it is hard labour
And it's weakening to the back
For mowing it is hard labour
Oh, and you must it forsake
So around my little meadow
Well you may use your fork and rake"

Then I said, "Oh me pretty fair maid
Pray do not on me frown
But if I stopped all summer long
Oh, I could not cut it down
For it is such a pleasant place
And it grows such crops of grass
And it is well watered by the stream
That makes it grow so fast."

------------------------------------

One night as I lay on my bed


One night as I lay on my bed
I dreamed about a pretty maid
I was so distressed I could take no rest
Love did torment me so
So away to me true love I did go.

And when I came to my true love's window
I boldly called her by her name
Saying it was for your sake
I've come here so late
Through this bitter frost and snow
So open the window, my love do.

My mum and dad they are both awake
And they are sure for to hear us speak
There'll be no excuse then but sore abuse
Many a bitter word and blow
So away from my window, my love do.

Your mum and dad they are both asleep
And they are sure for not to hear us speak
For they're lying sound on their bed of down
And they draw their breath so low
So open the window, my love do.

My true love came and she opened the door
And just like an angel she stood on the floor
Her eyes shone bright like the stars at night
And no diamonds can shine so
And in with my true love I did go.

------------------------------------

Seventeen Come Sunday


As I walked out one May morning
One May morning so early
I overtook a fair pretty maid
Just as the day was dawning
    With me do-rummada, fuddle-iddle dah
    Fuddle-I-diddle-I-oh.

Her shoes was black, her stockings white
And her buckle shone like silver
And she had a dark and a roving eye
And her hair hung o'er her shoulder
    With me...

"Oh, how old are you, my pretty fair maid
How old are you my honey?"
And she answered me quite cheerfully
"I am seventeen come Sunday"
    With....

"Well, could you love me, my own pretty maid
Could you love me my honey?"
And she answered me quite cheerfully
"I dare not for my mummy"
    With.....

"But sir, if you come round to me mummy's house
When the moon shines bright and clearly
I will come down and I will let you in
And me mummy shall not hear ye
    With....

So there I did creep down to her mummy's house
And the moon shone bright and clearly
And she has come down and she has let me in
And she's laid in me arms till the morning
    With.....

"Can you marry me, my own dear sir
'Tis now your chance or never
And if you do not marry me
Then I am undone forever"
    With....

But now the pipes and drums they are her delight
As through the woods she ramble
Yes, the pipes and drums they are her delight
And she's happy with her husband
    And he's a....

------------------------------------

The Game of Cards


As I was a-walking one midsummer's morning
I heard the birds whistle and the nightingales play
And there did I spy a most beautiful maiden
As I was a-walking along the highway

O where are you going, my fair pretty lady
O where are you going so early this morn?
She said, "I'm going down to visit my neighbours
I'm going down to Warwick, the place I was born"

“It's may I come with you, my sweet pretty darling
May I go along in your sweet company?”
Then she turned her head and smiling all at me
Saying, "You may come with me, kind sir, if you please".

We had not been walking but a few miles together
Before this young damsel began to show free
She sat herself down, saying, "Sit down beside me
The games we shall play shall be one, two and three”.

I said, "My dear lady, if you're fond of the gaming
There's one game I know I would like you to learn
The game it is called The Game Of All Fours"
So I took out my pack and began the first turn.

She cut the cards first, I fell a-dealing
I dealt her a trump and myself a poor jack
She led off her ace and stole my jack from me
Saying, "Jack is the card I likes best in your pack".

"Since I dealt them last time, it's your turn to shuffle
My turn to show the best card in the pack"
Once more she'd the ace and the deuce for to beat me
Once again I had lost when I laid down poor jack.

So I took up my hat, I bid her good morning
I said, "You're the best that I knows at this game"
She answered, "Young man, if you come back tomorrow
We'll play the game over and over and over again.

------------------------------------

Ye Mar'ners All


Ye mariners all, as you're passing by
Come in my lads, drink if you're dry
Come in, sit ye down, think it not amiss
To pop your nose in a jug of this.

Ye tipplers all, as you're passing by
Come in my lads, your throats must feel dry
Come in, sit you down, spend your money so brisk
And pop your nose in a jug of this.

Ye mariners all, out there on the road
Come in my lads, drop that heavy load
Come in, sit ye down, think it not amiss,
To pop your nose in a jug of this.

Ye tipplers all, if you've but half a crown
You're welcome over, lads, to sit down
Come in, sit you down, spend your money so brisk
And pop your nose in a jug of this.

Oh, now I'm old and can scarcely crawl
I've a long grey beard and a head that's bald
Crown my desires and fulfil my bliss
A pretty maiden and a jug of this.

And when I'm in my grave and dead
And all me sorrows, they're past and fled
Transform me then into a fish
And let me swim round in a jug of this.

Ye mariners all, as you're passing by
Come in my lads, drink if you are dry
Come in, sit ye down, think it not amiss
To pop your nose in a jug of this.

------------------------------------

A CARROUSE

TO THE
Emperour, the Royal Pole,  
And the much-wrongd DUKE of LORRAIN.
To a New Tune at the PLAY-HOUSE

Hark! I hear the Cannons Roar,
Echoing from the German Shore,
And the joyful News come o'er
That the Turks are all confounded,
Lorraine comes, they run, they run,
Charge with your horse through the grand half-moon
And give quarter unto none
Since Starenberg is wounded.

Close your ranks, let each brave soul,
Fill a lusty flowing bowl,
A grand carrouse to the Royal Pole,
The Empire's brave defender:
Let no man leave his post by stealth,
Plunder the Barbarous Vizier's wealth,
We'll drink a helmet-full, the health
Of a Second Alexander.

Fill the Helmet once again,
To the emperor's happy reign,
And the much-wronged Duke Lorrain,
But when they've beat the Turks home:
Not a Soul the field will leave,
Till they do again retrieve
What the monsieur does detrieve,
And fix him in his dukedom.

Then will be the scheme of war,
When such drinking  crowns prepare,
Those that love, the Monsieurs fear,
Their courage will be shrinking.
Loyal hearts inspired with Hock,
Who can form a better Rock,
The  French will never stand the shock,
For all their claret-drinking.

Mahomet was a senseless dog,
A coffee-drinking drowsy rogue
The use of the grape so much in vogue
To deny to those adore him;
Had he allowed the fruits of the vine,
And gave them leave to carouse in wine,
They all had freely passed the Rhine,
And conquered all before them.

Coffee rallies no retreat,
Wine can only do the feat,
Had their force been twice as great
And all of Janissaries,
Though he had drunk the Danube dry
And all their profit could supply,
By his interest from the sky,
Brisk Langoon ne'er miscarried.

Infidels are now o'ercome,
The most Christian Turk at home
Watched the fate of Christendom
But all his hopes are shallow:
Since the Poles have led the dance,
If England's monarch will advance,
And if he'll send a Fleet to France,
He's a Whig that will not follow.

------------------------------------

What's the Life of a Man?


As I was a-walking one morning with thee
Viewing the leaves that'd fell from the tree
All in full motion appearing to me
Those that had withered, they fell from the tree
Ch:    What's the life of a man any more than a leaf?
    A man has his seasons and why should he grieve
    Although in this life we appear fine and gay
    Like a leaf we must wither and soon fade away.

If you had seen the trees just a few days ago
How beautiful and bright they did all seem to grow
A frost came upon them and withered them all
A storm came upon them and down they did fall.
Ch:

If you look in a churchyard, there you will see
Those that have passed like a leaf on a tree
When age and affliction upon them do call
Like a leaf we must wither and down we must fall.
Ch:

------------------------------------

If you were the only girl in the world


If you were the only girl in the world
And I were the only boy
Nothing else would matter in the world today
We could go on loving in the same old way
A garden of Eden just made for two
With nothing to mar our joy
I would say such wonderful things to you
There would be such wonderful things to do
If you were the only girl in the world
and I were the only boy.


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