Has anyone ever found the source or the real song refered to in Charles Dickin's Great Expectations, the blacksmith's song Old Clem.

"There was a song Joe used to hum fragments of at the forge, of which the burden was Old Clem. This was not a very ceremonious way of rendering homage to a patron saint; but, I believe Old Clem stood in that relation towards smiths. It was a song that imitated the measure of beating upon iron, and was a mere lyrical excuse for the introduction of Old Clem's respected name. Thus, you were to hammer boys round - Old Clem! With a thump and a sound - Old Clem! Beat it out, beat it out - Old Clem! With a clink for the stout - Old Clem! Blow the fire, blow the fire - Old Clem! Roaring dryer, soaring higher - Old Clem!"

The endnotes of the Penguin edition (Angus Calder, editor) go on to say of the song: "The smiths' chorus to their patron saint, St Clement. The blacksmiths of Chatham dockyard used to march to it on their annual festival (23 November - St Clements Day). Dickens heard it as a boy, and could very well have renewed aquaintance with it as a man." Anyone have ideas?

Richard Wright