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!"