Found at Bodleian Library allegro Catalogue of Ballads, Harding B 11(3049):


Printed and Sold by J. Wrigley, Junr., 3, Rochdale Road, Manchester

THE WANDERING BARD
Or
THE TRAMPING BOY

[1] I'm the wandering bard of Manchester; from scribbling can't refrain.
It's poverty compels me to come into the rain.
Hard is my fate. I have no estate, and must either sing or cry.
My lot is cast. I am forced at last to ask of you to buy.

[2] Cold winter's now approaching, but I have no clothes to pack.
None have I left behind me, for they are all on my back;
And I'll be bound that none around can tell where they were made,
Nor can he be found upon this ground to name that man of trade.

[3] My coat cost ten-and-sixpence about six years ago.
I bought it of a clothes-man, but his name I did not know.
This hat I had from a soldier, but the lining from it was tore.
An oil-skin has covered it for seven long years or more.

[4] This old handkerchief about my neck, just to ornament the same,
I bought at a gin-shop door, at the corner of Foundry Lane.
My waistcoat cost me three-pence. You may think the price too high.
I found my shirt among some dirt and hung it up to dry.

[5] Now for to beg these breeches, I had very much to do.
My stockings cost me four-pence in the year of ninety-two.
Now these two shoes are fellows. I think it something rare,
For I bought one in St. Giles's and the other at Rag Fair.

[6] If now then I am clothed, friends, you cannot say they're dear.
I've come into this ale-house just to take a cup of beer.
It always makes me cheerful, tho' the times are very hard.
O buy my song, be it right or wrong, it will help the wandering bard.

*
[The same collection has 6 other versions of the same song. Here are some variants:
Verse 1, line 1: Manchester / Exeter
1, 2: into / out in
2, 4: upon this ground / in this town / all on this ground
3, 1: six years / sixty years
3, 2: did / do
3, 3: lining from it was tore / lining's from it tore
3, 4: An oil-skin / And an old oil-skin
4, 1: same / frame
4, 2: at a gin-shop door / of a whore at a gin-shop door
4, 2: Foundry Lane / Drury Lane
5, 3: Now / If
5, 4: I bought one / One I bought
6, 1: If now then / O now then / So now that
6, 2: I've come / I come / I came
6, 4: O / So / Now
6, 4: it will / to
6, 4: the / a