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07 Feb 11 - 03:52 PM (#3090662) Subject: Lyr Add: The Death of Little Joey From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr. Add: The Death of Little Joey Anon. The kiddy Joey, taken ill, his mother call'd Nan Tatter, To ask, as how, if she could tell, with Joe what was the matter; Nan she examin'd soon his case, and look'd from head to hip, Sir, And then she cried: "Why, bung my eyes, the kiddy's got the pip, Sir, With a rowdy a, etc. (after each stanza) "The pip," his boozy mother cried, "my peepers, that can't be now, For I'm as clean, as clean can be, here, Nan, pray look and see now, "Why then," says Nan, "he's in a fit, I dare to bet a win now, To ease his chitterlings of pain, give him a dose of gin now. The remedy was quickly got and quickly was applied, Sir; But spite of all that they could do, poor little Joey died, Sir. His mother almost frantic cried: "the gin has surely crap'd him, Is it for this I gave him bub and tenderly so pap'd him, Oh! then, her cries and screams, indeed, both far and near resounded, Till soon by half St. Giles crew, dead Joey was surrounded; His father came confounded mad to find his son and heir, Sir, Had hopp'd the twig e'er he had learned to filch, and curse, and swear, "But vain, the wise man says, "indeed, is all our grief and sorrow, For he who mills a wipe to-day may be stretched out to-morrow, To bury him with decency, for means they all did hunt, Sir; But neither of them could advise which way to raise the blunt, Sir, "My eye, says Nan, "to bury him, you'll prove yoursel a noddy; For soon the resurrection men will sure take up his body; I'll fetch a surgeon, lives hard by, says Joe, "you're not a ninny, The surgeon came, and kiddy Joe was sold for half a guinea. No more with grief they pipe their eyes, or make a woeful din, Sir, To drown their sorrow all agree to sluice their gobs with gin, Sir; They drank and sang till fast asleep they pig'd upon the floor, Sir, And loud as any grunting sow they all were heard to snore, Sir. Thus altogether did they lay till dustman's bell gave warning And watchman drowsily declar'd it was daylight morning; They rose, and at the boozing ken again got drunk as Chloe, So this is all that can be said of little kiddy Joey. Mentioned by Richie among possible antecedents of the Carter's Darling Little Joe, thread 116137 and possibly related to Poor Little Joe of thread 85038. Darling Little Joe Poor Little Joe American Memory; K. de Masran, publisher, New York, 19th C. song sheet; a copy of the same song sheet also in the Bodleian Collection. |