Category: Poetry

Modern Street Ballads

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...

Chapters

1. Part 1

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 chan...

2. Part 2

They must wash and iron on, They must mangle, starch, and blue, They must get your victuals ready in a crack, They must get you tea and toast, They must frizzle, fry, and roast,...

3. Part 3

GOOD people, attend to my song, And listen to something that’s witty, It is not too short, or too long, But concerning town, country and city. Advice to all tradesmen I give, Sn...

4. Part 4

Both men shook hands, and the prize belt, it straightway was brought in, There let it hang says Bendigo, till the best man does win, That won’t be little Bendigo, then Caunt he...

5. Part 5

O, this was my first love, and thus I was cross’d, Ah, scorned by Paulina, how hard is my doom, I grow moloncolly, this vorld I am lost in, No more I’ll go valtzing in Dusty Tom...

6. Part 6

In their daddy’s last moments and on his death bed, He sent for their nunky, and to him he said, “I feel I am going, come, tip us your fin, Look after my babbies, take care of t...

7. Part 7

A TALE I tell now without any flam, In Holland there dwelt Mynheer von Clam, Who, every morning, said, I am The richest merchant in Amsterdam. Ri too ral, etc.

8. Part 8

The old Widow Warmpurse, she wanted a spouse, No children had she, but she had a large house, Six children had Duggins, though not very small, So, thinks he, the large house wil...

9. Part 9

O, these two cocks, they came to the sod, Cries the Liverpool lads, how now? what odds? The odds the Prescot lads did say, The Charcoal Black and the Bonny Grey.

10. Part 10

One bright May morning the sun did shine, And lads and lasses all gay and fine, Along the coast they did trip along, To see the wedding, and sing a cheerful song.

11. Part 11

A SUBJECT I want for a song, do you see, So Her Majesty, look you, my subject shall be; Nay there I am wrong, so my Muse here avers, _My_ “subject” she can’t be, because I am _h...

12. Part 12

BRITANNIA! Britannia! what makes thee complain, O, why so in sorrow relenting, Old England is lost, we are borne down in pain, And the nation in grief is lamenting. That excelle...

13. Part 13

Now to conclude and end my song, I hope to see before it’s long, The corn-brokers in a throng All sailing to Hanover. For now they cry out wirnstrew, And damn the duke of Waterl...

14. Part 14

My character soon taken was, And I was sent to jail, My friends they tried to clear me, But nothing could prevail. At the Old Bailey Sessions, The Judge to me did say, “The Jury...

15. Part 15

Riley was my love’s name,--he liv’d down by the sea, My mother took me by the hand, and these words she did say, If you be fond of Riley, let him leave this country, Your father...