Folk song collected by H.E.D. Hammond from George Moore of Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset. As I was walking Portsmouth City There I met a saucy strump; Up against a wall I pushed her, Then I found that she was drunk. Twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen, Twelve, ten, eight, six, four, two, none; Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen, Eleven, nine, seven, five, three and one. Going on I met some other And I told to her my case. She said "You need go no further," Up she took me to her place. When I woke up in the morning, Oh! What a terrible sight of woes! She had only gone and left me, Gubbered off with all my clothes! The backwards counting, according to the note, is supposed to be a test for drunkenness. More likely, I think, an inducement to drunkenness, i.e. anyone getting it wrong would have to down a pint before continuing the song.
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