Modern Street Ballads
“FIFTY SONGS FOR A FAR-R-R-R-DEN!
BY JOHN ASHTON AUTHOR OF “SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE,” ETC.
Over Street Ballads may be raised the wail of “Ichabod, Ichabod, their glory is departed.” They held their own for many centuries, bravely and well, but have succumbed to a changed order of things, and a new generation has arisen, who will not stop in the streets to listen to these ballads being sung, but prefer to have their music served up to them “piping hot,” with the accompaniment of warmth, light, beer, and tobacco (for which they duly have to pay) at the Music Halls; but whether the change be for the better, or not, may be a moot question.
These Street Ballads were produced within a very few hours of the publication of any event of the slightest public interest; and, failing that, the singers had always an unlimited store to fall back upon, on domestic, or humorous subjects, love, the sea, etc., etc. Of their variety we may learn something, not only from this book, but from the ballad of “Chaunting Benny” of which the following is a portion:—
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“My songs have had a tidy run, I’ve plenty in my fist, Sirs, And if you wish to pick one out, I’ll just run through my list, Sirs.
Have you seen “My daughter Fan,” “She wore a wreath of roses,” And here you see “My son Tom,” “The Sun that lights the roses,” “Green grow the rushes O,” “On the Banks of Allan Water,” “Such a getting out of bed,” with “Brave Lord Ullin’s daughter.”
Unknown
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SALE OF A WIFE.
Chorus.
JOHN HOBBS.
A WOMAN NEVER KNOWS WHEN HER DAY’S WORK’S DONE.
Chorus.
Chorus.
THE INCOME TAX.
Chorus.
STRIKING TIMES.
Chorus.
THE MECHANIC’S APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.
Chorus.
Chorus.
BOB LOGIC’S DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW BRIGHTON DILIGENCE FOR INSIDE PASSENGERS ONLY.
PAPER’D-UP HAIR.
I LIKES A DROP OF GOOD BEER.
Chorus.
THE SNOB AND THE BOTTLE.
RORY O MORE TURNED TEETOTAL.
HURRAH FOR FATHER MATHEW’S MILL.
HOW FIVE AND TWENTY SHILLINGS WERE EXPENDED IN A WEEK.
Chorus.
Chorus.
THE CRIES OF LONDON.
Chorus.
THE HONEST POLICEMAN OF MITCHAM.
COOKEY DARLING.
I SHOULD LIKE TO BE A POLICEMAN.
Chorus.
BENDIGO, CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
Chorus.
THE BOLD IRISH YANKEY BENICIA BOY.
Chorus.
I’M A GENT.
JULLIEN’S GRAND POLKA.
Chorus.
MARGATE HOY.
CRYSTAL PALACE.
Chorus.
IF I HAD A DONKEY WOT WOULDN’T GO.
Chorus.
SHOVEL AND BROOM.
VILIKINS AND HIS DINAH.
Moral.
THE EXCISEMAN OUTWITTED.
GILES SCROGGINS GHOST.
THE STRANGE MAN.
A SIGHT FOR A FATHER.
HUMOURS OF BARTLEMY FAIR.
GEORGY BARNWELL.
JONATHAN BROWN.
WERY PEKOOLIAR, OR THE LISPING LOVERS.
THE BABES IN THE WOOD.
KATE’S YOUNG MAN.
HE WAS SUCH A NICE YOUNG MAN.
MRS. MONDAY.
ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS.
HOT CODLINGS.
THE WONDERFUL CROCODILE.
THE THIEF’S ARM.
CORK LEG.
THE ONE HORSE CHAY.
THE LITERARY DUSTMAN.
Chorus.
Chorus.
THE BILL STICKER.
Chorus.
THINGS I DON’T LIKE TO SEE.
Chorus.
THE BARREL OF PORK.
Chorus.
HERE’S THE MAN A-COMING!
THE NOBBY HEAD OF HAIR.
MISS BAILEY’S GHOST.
HUMPHREY DUGGINS.
THE HONEST PLOUGHMAN, OR 90 YEARS AGO.
THE NEW FASHIONED FARMER.
Chorus.
JIG, JIG, TO THE HIRINGS.
COUNTRY STATUTES.
Chorus.
THE BOLD POACHER.
DEATH OF POOR BILL BROWN.
THE JOLLY ANGLER.
THE HUMOURS OF THE RACES.
THE BONNY GREY.
THE KING AND WEST COUNTRYMAN.
Chorus.
HODGE IN LONDON.
DEATH OF PARKER.
THE BATTLE OF BOULOGNE.
VICTORY.
Chorus.
SWEET WILLIAM.
THE POOR SMUGGLER’S BOY.
THE SMUGGLER’S BRIDE.
THE FEMALE SMUGGLER.
JACK RETURNED FROM SEA.
THE JOLLY ROVING TAR.
YOUNG HENRY OF THE RAGING MAIN.
RATCLIFFE HIGHWAY IN 1842.
Chorus.
Chorus.
THE GREENLAND WHALE FISHERY.
THE NEW YORK TRADER.
VIVA VICTORIA.
Chorus.
THE QUEEN AND THE COAL EXCHANGE.
CRYSTAL PALACE.
Chorus.
Chorus.
THE QUEEN’S DREAM.
Chorus.
Chorus.
Chorus.
BRAVE NELSON.
LORD NELSON.
Chorus.
BATTLE OF WATERLOO.
Chorus.
THE DEATH OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR ROBERT PEEL, BART., M.P.
Chorus.
THE CHRONICLES OF THE POPE.
THE HAPPY REFORM.
THE OPERATIVES’ MARCH.
A NEW ALPHABETICAL SONG ON THE CORN LAW BILL.
Chorus.
A NEW SONG ON THE CORN BILL.
THE CRISIS.
CHARTISTS ARE COMING.
Chorus.
THE SONG OF THE LOWER CLASSES.
A NEW HUNTING SONG.
Chorus.
Chorus.
JIM CROW.
Chorus.
THE WORKHOUSE BOY.
THE WILD ROVER.
Chorus.
BOTANY BAY.
VAN DIEMAN’S LAND.
FAREWELL TO JUDGES AND JURIES.
MY BONNY BLACK BESS.
LIFE OF THE MANNINGS.
Chorus.
Chorus.
THE UNDERTAKER’S CLUB.
Chorus.
A TIDY SUIT FOR ALL THAT.
THE RAGGED COAT.
THE COLLIER SWELL.
Chorus.
THE LONDON MERCHANT.
RILEY’S FAREWELL.
YOUNG WILLIAM.
THE BROKEN HEARTED GARDENER.
Chorus.
BOXING DAY IN 1847.
Chorus.
ST. JAMES’S AND ST. GILES’S.
Chorus.
THE THREE BUTCHERS.
