Going back to the original poem, Nerd's point was that it's the elimination of the 'Nichol' character that has made a nonsense of this verse. When Nichol talks about the wars, It's war than deeth to hear him; I oft steal out, to hide my tears, And cannot, cannot bear him; For aye he jeybes, and cracks his jwokes, and bids me nit forsake him; A brigadier, or grandidier, He says, they're sure to meake him. However, unlike Nerd, I think that it's Nichol, not Jemmy, who is cracking the jokes, bidding her not forsake Jemmy, and assuring her that Jemmy will no doubt receive a promotion. The tune does indeed have several phrases reminiscent of 'Sweet Thames'.
|