Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] - LightNovelsOnl.com
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And my round the houses I tried to dry [9]
By the Anna Maria's heat. [10]
He stuck to the I'm so to drown his cares, While I went for the far and near, [11]
Until the clock on the apples and pears [12]
Gave the office for us to clear. [13]
III
Then round at the club we'd another bout, And I fixed him at nap until I had turned his skyrockets inside out, [14]
And had managed my own to fill, Of course, I had gone on the half-ounce trick,[15]
And we quarrelled, and came to blows; But I fired him out of the Roiy quick, And he fell on his I suppose. [16]
IV
And he laid there, weighing out prayers for me, Without hearing the plates of meat [17]
Of a slop, who pinched him for "d. and d." [18]
And disturbing a peaceful beat, And I smiled as I closed my two mince pies [19]
In my insect promenade; For out of his nibs I had taken a rise, [20]
And his stay on the spot was barred.
V
Next morning I brushed up my Barnet Fair, [21]
And got myself up pretty smart; Then I sallied forth with a careless air, And contented raspberry tart. [22]
At the first big pub I resolved, if pos., [23]
That I'd sample my lucky star; So I pa.s.sed a flimsy on to the boss [24]
Who served drinks at the there you are. [25]
VI
He looked at the note, and the air began With his language to pen and ink; [26]
For the mug I'd fleeced had been his head man, [27]
And had done him for lots of c.h.i.n.k. [28]
I'm blessed if my luck doesn't hum and ha, For I argued the point with skill; But the once a week made me go ta-ta [29]
For a month on the can't keep still. [30]
[1: without drink]
[2: coat]
[3: rain]
[4: swell; row]
[5: get away]
[6: rap]
[7: drunk]
[8: drink]
[9: trousers]
[10: fire]
[11: beer]
[12: stairs]
[13: warning]
[14: pockets]
[15: bounce]
[16: nose]
[17: feet]
[18: policeman; arrested; drunk and disorderly]
[19: eyes ]
[20: him; advantage]
[21: hair]
[22: heart]
[23: possible]
[24: banknote]
[25: bar]
[26: stink]
[27: fellow; cheated]
[28: robbed; money]
[29: beak]
[30: everlasting wheel=mill]
WOT CHER! [Notes]
_or, Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Rd._ [1892]
[By ALBERT CHEVALIER].
I
Last week down our alley come a toff, [1]
Nice old geezer with a nasty cough, [2]
Sees my Missus, takes 'is topper off [3]
In a very gentlemanly way!
"Ma'am," says he, "I 'ave some news to tell, Your rich Uncle Tom of Camberwell, Popped off recent, which it ain't a sell, [4]
Leaving you 'is little Donkey Shay."
"Wot cher!" all the neighbours cried, "Who're yer goin' to meet, Bill?
Have yer bought the street, Bill?"
Laugh! I thought I should 'ave died, Knock'd 'em in the Old Kent Road! [5]
II
Some says nasty things about the moke, [6]
One cove thinks 'is leg is really broke, [7]
That's 'is envy, cos we're carriage folk, Like the toffs as rides in Rotten Row!
Straight! it woke the alley up a bit, [8]
Thought our lodger would 'ave 'ad a fit, When my missus, who's a real wit, Says, "I 'ates a Bus, because it's low!"
"Wot cher!" &c.
III
When we starts the blessed donkey stops, He won't move, so out I quickly 'ops, Pals start whackin' him, when down he drops, Someone says he wasn't made to go.
Lor it might 'ave been a four-in-'and, My Old Dutch knows 'ow to do the grand, [9]
