The pitmen and the keelmen trim, They drink bumbo made of gin, And for to dance they do begin, The tune of “_Elsie Marley_,” honey.
The sailors they will call for flip, As soon as they come from the ship, And then begin to dance and skip, To the tune of “_Elsie Marley_,” honey.
Those gentlemen that go so fine, They’ll treat her with a bottle of wine, And freely they’ll sit down and dine Along with Elsie Marley, honey.
So to conclude these lines I’ve penn’d, Hoping there’s none I do offend, And thus my merry joke doth end, Concerning Elsie Marley, honey. And do you ken, &c.
Thro’ Durham County, fam’d of old, Thro’ England, be it ever told, That Chester lads stood forth so bold, And Chester lads for ever.
When Frenchmen heard of their intent, To Bonaparte in haste they sent, And said, since Chester thus is bent, We are ruin’d, sirs, for ever.
O dreadful news! said Bonaparte, Enough to break each Frenchman’s heart; But let us try, with all our art, Those Chester lads to sever.
Then firmly spoke Monsieur Otto, The Chester lads you little know, If them you think to overthrow; For they will fight for ever.
Tho’ many millions you have slain, Yet what you’ve done is all in vain; You’ll never beat the Chester men, Nor cope with them--no never.
The Consul call’d a council straight, And long and learned the debate; Each Frenchman tried, with all his weight, How France he might deliver.
The issue of this parliament Was peace--the glorious grand event, Which gave each British heart content. And Chester lads for ever!!!
Come all ye lads who wish to shine Bright in Chester story, Haste to arms, and form the line, Where Lumley leads to glory.
Charge the musket, point the lance, Brave the worst of dangers; Tell the blustering sons of France, That Chester fears no strangers.
Chester, when the lion’s rous’d, And the flag is rearing, Always finds her sons dispos’d To drub the foe that’s daring. Charge the musket, &c.
Honor for the brave to share, Is the noblest booty; Guard the coast, protect the fair, For that’s a Briton’s duty. Charge the musket, &c.
Beat the drums, the music sound, Manly and united; Danger face, maintain your ground, And see your country righted. Charge the musket, &c.
And are ye sure the tale is true? Again the news relate, That Chester is to raise a corps To fight for king and state. Then let us fill a bumper full, To Scarborough’s noble thane, Who under his protection has The men of Chester ta’en.