"In spite of bad luck, don't be a grumbler;
If you are finished off from a tumbler! [11]
But to the end of your life, cut a shine,
You're not the first man got into a line."
Foddy, loddy, high O.
[1: child] [2: feet] [3: accomplished;] [4: thief] [5: round for theft] [6: leer] [7: steal; handkerchief] [8: housebreaking] [9: highwayman] [10: money] [11: cart; Notes]
THE CADGER'S BALL [Notes] [1852]
[From JOHN LABERN'S Popular Comic Song Book. Tune—Joe
Buggins.].
I
Oh, what a spicy flare-up, tear-up,
Festival Terpsickory,
Was guv'd by the genteel cadgers
In the famous Rookery.
As soon as it got vind, however,
Old St Giles's vos to fall—
They all declar'd, so help their never,
They'd vind up vith a stunnin' ball!
Tol, lol lol, etc.
II
Jack Flipflap took the affair in hand, sirs—
Who understood the thing complete—
He'd often danced afore the public,
On the boards, about the streets.
Old Mother Swankey, she consented
To lend her lodging-house for nix— [1]
Say's she, 'The crib comes down to-morrow,
So, go it, just like beans and bricks.' [2]
Tol, lol lol, etc.
III
The night arrived for trotter-shaking— [3]
To Mother Swankey's snoozing-crib; [4]
Each downy cadger was seen taking
His bit of muslin, or his rib. [5]
Twelve candles vos stuck into turnips,
Suspended from the ceiling queer—
Bunn's blaze of triumph was all pickles
To this wegetable shandileer.
Tol, lol lol, etc.