MARTHA GREY

TEUN- "Luv amangthe Roses."

IT might heh been i' Yepril,
Or it might heh been i' May,
When forst aw wes se lucky
As te meet wi' Martha Grey,
She stood behint the koonter,
Byeth reed an' fat wes she;
The hams an' bacon roond her
Had ne such charms te me.
Aw got a half-a-noonce 0' twist,
An' aw wish'd that aw cud steal her,
At forst seet there me heart aw miss'd,
Throo that stoot Pervishun Dealer!

Korus.

They call her Grey,-her measure's just,
She keeps a shop, but gies ne trust;
Since then aw've oftin tried her,
An' aw's ne poor appealer,
But wi' Martha Grey aw hope sum day,
Te be Co-Pervishun Dealer!

Aw axed her for a leeter,
Or aw said a match wad de,
Then frev a box beside her,
She handed two or three;
Aw luckt doon at the matches,
An' then aw luckt at her,
I' hopes her eye wad catch us,
But she stared at the dor.
She teuk ne notis when aw spoke,
What aw meant for a feeler,
A match aw thowt wad end i' smoke,
Wi' that stoot Pervishun Dealer.

Since then aw've gyen there oftin,
Te kort fat Martha Grey,
An' hard aw've tried te soften
Her heart an' myekt give way,
Aw believe that aw've a chance yit,
For sumtimes Martha's eye
Wi' luv 'ill myek advances,
So then aw'll gamely try,
Te captivate byeth wife an' shop,
At Mary's feet aw'll kneel, or
The co-operative questin pop
Te that stoat Pervishun Dealer!

-Source: Joe Wilson, (author) Songs and Drolleries, 1890