Few folks for news very anxious at this crisis are, For marriages, and deaths, and births, no thirst exists; All take the papers in, to find out what the prices are Of shares in this or that, upon the brokers' lists. The doctor leaves his patient, the pedagogue his Lexicon, For mines of Real Monte, or for those of Anglo-Mexican: E'en Chili bonds don't cool the rage, nor those still more romantic, sir, For new canals to join the seas, Pacific and Atlantic, sir. Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
At home we have projects too for draining surplus capital, And honest Master Johnny of his cash to chouse; Tho' t'other day, Judge Abbott gave a rather sharpish slap at all, And Eldon launch'd his thunder from the Upper House. Investment banks to lend a lift to people who are undone-- Proposals for assurance--there's no end of that in London; And one amongst the number, who in Parliament now press their Bills, For lending cash at eight per cent. on coats and inexpressibles. Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
No more with her bright pails the milkman's rosy daughter works, A Company must serve you now with milk and cream; Perhaps they've some connection with the advertising water-works, That promise to supply you from the limpid stream. Another body corporate would fain some pence and shillings get, By selling fish at Hungerford, and knocking up old Billingsgate; Another takes your linen, when it's dirty, to the suds, sir, And brings it home in carriages with four nice bits of blood, sir. Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
When Greenwich coaches go by steam on roads of iron railing, sir, How pleasant it will be to see a dozen in a line; And ships of heavy burden over hills and valleys sailing, sir, Shall cross from Bristol's Channel to the Tweed or Tyne. And Dame Speculation, if she ever fully hath her ends, Will give us docks at Bermondsey, St. Saviour's, and St. Catherine's; While side-long bridges over mud shall fill the folks with wonder, sir, And lamp-light tunnels all day long, convey Cockneys under, sir. Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.