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Tell Mister Bell me go plant coco, Tell Mister Bell me go plant coco, Tell Mister Bell me go plant coco, fuppence a quart fe flour! Flour Flour Flour Flour! fuppence a quart fe flour! |
Mr. Bell is, however, the keeper of a country shop. "Tell Mr. Bell I am going to plant cocoes. Threepence a quart for shop flour! No, it's too much expense." ("Too much expense" is a favourite phrase.)
The accent which the music gives to the word coco is not the right one. It should be on the first syllable.
"Fuppence" is fivepence, but means threepence. This is the survival of an old coinage in which sixpence was called tenpence. The u in "fuppence" is an Italian u with a turn towards an open o. It sounds more like fourpence than fippence.
"Plant coco" is the bobbin, but a gang who were inspired not to leave too much to the raiser of the tune, would take upon themselves to add "Fuppence a quart fe flour." ("Fe," sounded "fy," with short y as in "very.")
LVI.
The next has again a well-defined bobbin in "nyam an' cry," and hereafter no reference will be made to this feature, which by now must be thoroughly understood. Where it appears to be wanting, the whole sing is sung in chorus.