Old song from Suffolk. Presumably Music Hall originally. Now some of you doubters and pedants may be about to point out that the verse of JBB has 4 lines, each of the first three having 11 syllables, whilst this has 8 lines, each of the first seven having 13 syllables. I say, shame on your doubting and pedantry. It works. Somehow. Keep using the tune of the first two lines of JBB until you realise you are near the end. Then escape into line three. As for the extra syllables - they fit sideways! Down to Betsy Taylor's house so merrily we piled Where the baby boy was born, a lovely little child. The neighbours came from miles around, the aunts and uncles too; They were full of admiration when the baby came in view. We gave the baby half a crown and everything was grand Until someone took the money from the little darling's hand And spent it buying bitter beer till we could hardly stand. And we all went rolling home. CHO. We were christening the baby (x3) And we all went rolling home. When the christening time came round the crowds flocked in galore. There were thousands packed inside the church and more outside the door. The parson he came in and said, "Hello you drunken set. Now what name dost thou wantest me to give the little pet?" We said we'd call it Betsy but the parson meek and mild Looked the baby over and answered with a smile "Thou canst not call it Betsy, 'cos it ain't that kind of child." And we all went rolling home. When it all was over we went out to the gate We said sorry to the parson for being in a state. The parson held his hand out and asked for LSD But none of us had got a bob to pay the christening fee. The parson he got angry and demanded half a quid. He said "Who's going to pay me now for all the work I did?" So just to save an argument we let him keep the kid And we all went rolling home.
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