The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #104750   Message #2148658
Posted By: Rowan
13-Sep-07 - 08:34 PM
Thread Name: Folklore: Expressions lost/gained with SI measures
Subject: RE: Folklore: Expressions lost/gained with SI measures
The song I mentioned above has its title listed in a posting from Joe Offer some years ago. Here's the words as I learned (and sing) them. Manifold might have a source listed in the Penguin book that Joe refers to but I don't have it to hand.

Five and a zac

I've been a few miles and I've crossed a few stiles,
I've been 'round the world and then back;
but at one place I struck, between here and Hazebruck,
they stung me for five and a zac!

Oh the time keeper there, with his sanctified air,
was a Salvation Army lance jack;
on his cornet he'd bleat as he stood in the street,
and he stung me for five and a zac!

May that time keeper stand in his Aunt Sally band
and blow till his eyeballs turn black!
May each note on his cornet turn into a hornet
and sting him for five and a zac!

When my time comes I'll go to the hot place below
and I never intend to come back!
On my tombstone you'll find these words underlined,
"They stung me for five and a zac!"

Cheers, Rowan