Lyr Add: The Journalists Displayed (from Bodleian)

Subject: Lyr Add: The Journalists Displayed
From: delphinium
Date: 04 Jul 03 - 12:47 PM

THE JOURNALISTS DISPLAYED
(to the tune of Lilleburlero)

Dear Friend, have you heard the fantastical Chimes,
Ribbledum, Scribbledum, Fribbledum, Flash,
As sung by the Journalists, all of our Times?
Satyrum, Traytorum, Treasondum, Trash,
Popery, Slavery, Bribery, Knavery,
Irruptions, Corruptions, and Some-body's Fall;
Pensions and Places, Removes and Disgraces,
And something and nothing, the Devil and all.

These Sparks they eternally harp on a String,
Ribbledum, Scribbledum, Fribbledum, Flash;
And this is the Song they on Saturdays sing,
Satyrum, Traytorum, Treasondum, Trash;
Popery, Slavery, Bribery, Knavery,
Irruptions, Corruptions, and some-body's Fall;
Pensions and Places, Removes and Disgraces,
And something and nothing, the Devil and all.

In poreing you need not your Spirits to pall,
Ribbledum, Scribbledum, Fribbledum, Flash;
For when you've read One of them, then you've read All,
Satyrum, Traytorum, Treasondum, Trash;
Popery, Slavery, Bribery, Knavery,
Irruptions, Corruptions, and some-body's Fall;
Pensions and Places, Removes and Disgraces,
And something and nothing, the Devil and all.

To frighten the Mob, all Inventions they try,
Ribbledum, Scribbledum, Fribbledum, Flash;
But Money's their Aim, tho' their Country's the Cry,
Satyrum, Traytorum, Treasondum, Trash;
Popery, Slavery, Bribery, Knavery,
Irruptions, Corruptions, and some-body's fall;
Pensions and Places, Removes and Disgraces,
And something and nothing, the Devil and all.

That the Joke is a stale one, we very well know,
Ribbledum, Scribbledum, Fribbledum, Flash;
'Twas just the same, Ages and Ages ago,
Satyrum, Traytorum, Treasondum, Trash;
Popery, Slavery, Bribery, Knavery,
Irruptions, Corruptions, and some-body's fall;
Pensions and Places, Removes and Disgraces,
And something and nothing, the Devil and all.

I'll tell you the Way, these Complainants to quell
Ribbledum, Scribbledum, Fribbledum, Flash,
Give all of them Places, and all will be well,
Satyrum, Traytorum, Treasondum, Trash,
'Twill be no more Slavery, Bribery, Knavery,
Irruptions, Corruptions, and some-body's Fall;
But stand up for Royalty! punish Disloyalty!
Stock it and Pocket the Devil and all.

***

IMO, this ballad from 1740(?) could be sung about a lot of journalists today. The first verse is in the Digitrad already but this is the entire song from the Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads web site.

At the Bodleian site it is titled "The Journalists Displayed, A New Ballad, To the Old Tune of Lilleburlero" and imprinted "London: Printed by Peter Wiseacre in the Old-Baily."

The verse in the DT now is under the title "The Journalist Display'd" and notes are:
Published 1740. This is only the first verse;
I'm looking for others. Spelling is modernized. RG
From The British Broadside Ballad, Simpson.

The version in the DT has "rung" instead of "sung" in the third line, but in the Bodleian it looks like "sung" to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Journalists Displayed
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Jul 03 - 07:51 AM

Fine work. Thanks, Delphinium.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Journalists Displayed
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 06 Jul 03 - 06:52 PM

A nugget! Thanks, Delph.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Journalists Displayed
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 08:15 AM

Fine song, fits our times only too well. That's why my dear grandfather worked as a journalist only half a year and swore never to do it again.

Wilfried