BROKEN DOWN
   Written and sung by Harry Clifton. [1860s]

Once I'd money plenty!
   And friends, too, by the score,
Then fortune smiled upon me
   And no one pass'd my door,
Now I'm poor and lonely,
   And not worth half-a-crown,
Now no one seems to know me,
   I'm completely Broken Down!

        CHORUS.
   I wander thro' the world,
     And meet with many a frown,
   No one seerns to know me now,
     Because I'm Broken Down.

With an ample fortune
   I went it rather fast,
The pace was almost killing,
   And I found it couldn't last
Too proud to put the curb on,
   I thought myself high bred,
And now, for want of bread at times
   I have to fast instead.

The immortal Shakespeare
   Says, "All the world's a stage
And every man must play his part,
   From childhood to old age,"
And when I think of days gone by,
   How I was made a fool
Of rogues, and sharps, 'tis then I know
   My part has been the fool.
        I wander, &c.

Friends could recognize me,
   When Poole he made my coat,
But when I had no note to change,
   How soon they changed their note.
An object sad and needy,
   I wander thro' the town,
A living paradox am I,
   Hard up, yet broken down.

   I wander thro' the world,
     And meet with many a frown.
   The time to try your friends you'll find
       Is when you've Broken Down.

Source: Bodley Ballads, Harding B 11(199); between 1840 and 1866
Printer: J. Harkness, Preston. Sheet no.: 978
On same sheet: Bear good will to all men