THE OYSTER GIRL

As I was walking in London Street,
A pretty little Oyster Girl I chanced to meet,
And into her basket so nimbly did peep,
To see if she had got any Oysters.

Oysters, Oysters, Oysters, said she,
If you want any Oysters come buy them of me?
They are the finest Oysters that ever you did see,
Will you please to buy any Oysters?

O landlord, landlord, landlord, says he,
Have you got any room for a friend and me,
That we may sit clown and merry, merry be,
Till we bargain for a basket of Oysters?

We had not been above an hour in the room,
Before she picked my pocket of full fifty pounds,
And gave me the slip and out of the room crept,
And left me with her basket of Oysters.

O landlord, landlord, landlord, says he,
Did you see the little Oyster Girl that came in with me?
She has picked my pocket of all my money,
And left me with her basket of Oysters.

Its I have travelled England, Scotland, and France,
And never in my life did I meet with such a dance,
The English girl has tricked the Frenchman at last,
And left him with her basket of Oysters.


Bodleian Ballads Catalogue: Firth c.18(291)