"Ratcliffe Highway" appears as "Rolling Down Wapping" in the Bodleian Library. The earliest of several copies by various printers is one printed by J. Catnach, ca. 1813-1838.

Lyr. Add: ROLLING DOWN WAPPING

As I was rolling down Wapping,
I rambled through Ratcliff Highway,
To drink I went into an alehouse,
To spend all that night and next day.

Where a blooming young Doxy sat by me,
She ask'd if I'd money to sport,
For a Bottle of Wine charge a Guinea,
She quickly replied that's the sort.

When the Bottle was brought to the table,
And glasses for every one,
I ask'd for the change of a guinea,
She gave me the verse of a song.

The old baud she flew into a passion,
And plac'd her two hands on her hips,
Saying, young man, you don't know the fashion,
You think you're on board of a ship.

If this is your fashion to rob me,
It's a fashion I ne'er can abide,
So launch out the change of my guinea
Or dang me I'll give a broadside.

A Bottle and glass on the table
At her head I quickly let fly,
Then down on the floor she did tumble
O Murder, I'm killed she cried.

A gold watch which hung o'er the chimney,
For the change of my guinea I seiz'd,
So nimbly tripped down stairs,
Saying, dang my old shoes I am pleas'd.

The night had been dark in my favour,
To the waterside nimbly did creep,
And got into a boat bound for Debtford,
And got on board of my ship.

Come all you young seamen who ramble,
Especially through Ratcliff Highway,
To drink you go into an alehouse,
Beware how long you do stay.

For the wines and the songs will divert you,
You'll think that your mind was deranged,
And if that you give them a guinea,
You may go to the d---l for change.

Harding B11 (3307A), on sheet with "Whale Fishery," J. Catnach, London, and (sold by) Marshall, W., Bristol. Ca. 1813-1838. The type font, with 's' resembling 'f', suggests a date before 1820.