A SMUGGLERS SONG
Rudyard Kipling

If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet
Don't go drawing back the blinds, or looking in the street
Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie
Watch the wall my darling when the Gentlemen go by.
Chorus:
       Five-and-twenty ponies trotting through the dark
       Brandy for the Parson, 'baccy for the Clerk
       Laces for a lady, letters for a spy
       And watch the wall my darling, while the Gentlemen go by.

Running round the woodlump if you chance to find
Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine
Don't you shout to come and look, nor use 'em for your play
Put the brushwood back again - and they'll be gone next day.
Chorus:

If you see the stable door setting open wide;
If you see a tired horse lying down inside;
If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore;
If the lining's wet and warm - don't you ask no more!
Chorus:

If you met King George's men, dressed in blue and red,
You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said.
If they call you, "Pretty maid", and chuck you 'neath the chin
Don't you tell where no one is, nor yet where no ones been.
Chorus:

Knocks and footsteps round the house - whistles after dark
You've no call for running out till the house-dogs bark
Trusty's here, and Pincher's here, and see how dumb they lie
They don't fret to follow when the gentlemen go by!
Chorus:

If you do as you've been told, likely there's a chance
You'll be given a dainty doll, all the way from France
With a cap of Valenciennes and a velvet hood
A present from the Gentlemen, along 'o being good.

Chorus:
    Five-and-twenty ponies trotting through the dark
    Brandy for the Parson, 'baccy for the Clerk
    Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie
    Watch the wall my darling when the Gentlemen go by.


From Rudyard Kipling's "Puck of Pook's Hill"
NP



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Re-submitted as relevent to the thread, and earlier submissions do not appear to have been 'harvested'. Also earlier submissions include typos which have been copied from one thread to another. (I think I've caught them all) I've re-checked this against my copy of the book, which is why as well as correcting a couple of errors I've followed the book's standards and capitalsed 'Parson' 'Clerk' and 'Gentlemen'

CHEERS
Nigel