Lyr Req: Duck-Legged Dick

Subject: Lyrics to 'Duck-Legged Dick?'
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 22 Aug 15 - 11:44 AM

Quote from a YouTube page devoted to I Am King Henry (The Six Wives of Henry the 8th with LYRICS). 1850):

"Henry Mayhew cites this and a song titled "Duck-Legged Dick" as two of the most popular songs among those whom Jack London called "the people of the abyss," in his book by the same title."

Okay, here's the poser:

Does anyone know the lyrics to "Duck-Legged Dick?" I have not found it in the DT, or elsewhere on the Internet.

Thanks, Bob

Subject: RE: Lyrics to 'Duck-Legged Dick?'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 08:10 AM

http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/static/images/sheets/05000/01908.gif

The page on the link that opens can be enlarged. Does that look like what you're looking for, Bob?

Subject: RE: Lyrics to 'Duck-Legged Dick?'
From: cnd
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 02:49 PM

Guest,#, your link is messed up. If you copy and paste the link (BEFORE the "<" sign) it works, but just clicking it leaves an error.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to 'Duck-Legged Dick?'
From: cnd
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 03:25 PM

It should just be http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/static/images/sheets/05000/01908.gif

Subject: RE: Lyrics to 'Duck-Legged Dick?'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 04:02 PM

They both work for me. But thanks, just the same.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to 'Duck-Legged Dick?'
From: cnd
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 04:10 PM

Joe probably fixed it. Previously, your whole comment was a hyperlink that came up as a broken page.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to 'Duck-Legged Dick?'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 07:09 PM

So shoot me.

Subject: Lyr Add: DUCK-LEGGED DICK
From: cnd
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 09:37 PM

Sorry, GUEST,#, just trying to be helpful.

DUCK-LEGGED DICK
(Unknown)

Duck-leg Dick had a donkey
And his lush lov'd much for swill
One day he got rather lumpy
And got seven days to the mill
His donkey was taken to the Green Yard
A fate which he never deserv'd
Oh, it was such a regular mean yard
That alas! the poor moke got starv'd
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

To Brixton, without any riot
They logg'd Dick off very quick
He went in remarkably quiet
'Cos he knew it was no use to kick
Each they day made him grapple
On the roley-polly stairs
On Sunday they sent him to chapel
But they couldn't make the [?]uffer say his prayers
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

So time passed on, as I've stated
When these things came to pass
When Dick got liberated
He went to look after his ass
When the death to him they nam'd it
It filled him with dismay
Then he went to the green yard and claim'd it
And I rought the dead donkey away
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

Dick's feelings were so much distress'd
He borrowed a knife and a s[?]ee'
Like Alderman S--- he did dress it
And cut his dead body up like veal
To a Bermondsey tanner his skin went
And the offal away he throw'd
And the fore quarters, thick and thin bones
Went to a shop where they sold alamode
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

The hair off the haed [head] he scalded
The hair pretty close he di[d] crop
A lemon in his mouth he holded
And sent him to a pastrycook's shop
His [f]eet in a jelly he carted
'Cos he thought it a mess that would please
And the rest was sent to Newgate Market
To make real Epping Sausages
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

So Dick got along with his cronies
Without any fear or a noise
And made some into polonies
And some into sweet saveloys
In his spl[?it?] he go' no damper
So a bargain he got pretty quick
For he bought a new moke and hamper
To seventeen bob an[d] a kick
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

So Dick toddled off with his bargain
The donkey was warranted sound
'T was lies [????] [s]wore that they [t]old [?????]
And [t]hat p[r]etty soon found
One leg was a regular [???]nger
And he had[n]'t got a eye i[n] his head
So the live [m]oke that they sold him
Was as quiet as the one that was dead
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

The moke couldn't go [???] axing
So the hampers he took from his back
Then spit in his hand and whopp'd him
For all the world just like a sack
Not one blow poor Dick misses
That the people cried out "what a shame!"
But Dick only told 'em to kiss h[i]s
What I don't mean to chose for a name
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

Some kid from one Dicky Ma[????]
Took him up for this cruel crime
Afore the break sure and s[????]
And the donkey was sold for the fine
Dick spirits he could not govern
So in the office he kicked up a row
So once he was sent to prison
And there the poor devil is now
Oh, bad luck can't be prevented
Tho' Fortune may smile or frown
He's best off that's contented
To mix, sirs, the ups with the downs

Transcribed from GUEST,#'s source

Subject: Lyr Add: DUCK LEG'D DICK HAD A DONKEY (Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Aug 15 - 02:52 PM

The Bodleian Library has another edition that is somewhat different:


DUCK LEG'D DICK HAD A DONKEY.

[1] Duck leg'd Dick had a donkey,
Yet the lush much he lov'd to swill.
One day he got preciously lumpy,
And was sent seven days to the Mill.
His donkey was took to the Green-yard—
A fate it never deserv'd,
And it vos such a regular mean yard,
That there the poor hanimal was starv'd.

CHORUS:—
Yet bad luck can't be perwented,
Tho' Fortune may smile and frown,
And he's best off what's contented
To mix up the ups with the downs.

[2] To Brixton, without any riot,
They nicks off Dick pretty quick.
He[?] went so remarkably quiet,
'Cos he know'd 'twas no use to kick.
Each day they made him grapple
The roly-poly stairs.
On Sunday they sent him to Chapel,
But they couldn't make the buffer say his prayers.

[3] Time pass'd on, as I've stated,
When these 'ere things came to pass,
When Dick got deliberated,
And vent to look after his ass.
And ven the death they nam'd it,
It fill'd him with dismay,
So he vent to the Green Yard and claim'd it,
And brought the dead body away.

[4] His feelings was so much distressed,
That he borrow'd a knife and a steel;
Like Alderman Scales he did dress it,
And cut up the donkey like weal.
To a Bermondsey tanner the skin vent,
And the offal away he throw'd,
And the fore quarters, thick 'uns (now thin) vent
To a shop where they sold alamode.

[5] The hairs from his head then he scalded;
The ears pretty closely did crop.
A lemon in its mouth then it holded,
And went to a pastry cook's shop.
The feet in a jelly he carted,
'Cos he thought 'twas a mess would please,
And the rest was took to Newgate Market,
To make the real Epping Sausages.

[6] Then Dick got along with his cronies,
Without any fear or a noise;
Made some into nice polonies,
And some into sweet saveloys.
In his spirits he'd got no dampers.
A bargain he got pretty quick,
So he bought a new donkey and hampers,
For seventeen bob and a kick.

[7] Now Dick toddl'd off with his bargain.
His donkey was warranted sound.
'Twas lies, every word that they told him,
And that Dick he presently found;
For one leg was a regular swinger,
And he hadn't got an eye in his head,
So the live moke wot they sold him
Vos as quiet as the one that was dead.

[8] Now the moke wouldn't go, not by coaxing,
So the hampers he took from his back,
Then spit in his hand and wopp'd him
For all the world just like a sack;
And not one blow Dick misses,
And the people cries, "Oh! vot a shame!"
But he only told 'em to kiss his—
Vot I don't choose for to name.

[9] Some kids from one Dicky Martin
Took him up for this cruel crime,
Afore the Beak sure and sartin,
And the donkey vos sold for the fine.
Now Dick his spirits couldn't govern.
In the office he kick'd up a row.
So vonce more he was sent to oven,
And there the poor devil is now.

James Walker, Printer, Durham.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Duck-Legged Dick
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 26 Aug 15 - 08:09 PM

Mudcat rules! Fine work, cnd, and thanks for trying, GUEST,#. And Jim, once again thanks; you are consistently a great mudcat contributor.

Best to all, Bob Coltman