Poem Post: A Smuggling Song

[minoanmiss]

Watch on YouTube

I had to Kipple at least once this month. cmcmck posted this last year and it grabbed me. I wish I could send it to my parents, considering the grand practice of filling one's suitcase with trade goods.


If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet,
Don't go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street.
Them that ask no questions isn't told a lie.
Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!
Five and twenty ponies,
Trotting through the dark --
Brandy for the Parson,
'Baccy for the Clerk;
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,
And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!

Running round the woodlump if you chance to find
Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine,
Don't you shout to come and look, nor use 'em for your play.
Put the brishwood back again -- and they'll be gone next day!

If you see the stable-door setting open wide;
If you see a tired horse lying down inside;
If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore;
If the lining's wet and warm -- don't you ask no more!

If you meet King George's men, dressed in blue and red,
You be carefull what you say, and mindful what is said.
If they call you "pretty maid," and chuck you 'neath the chin,
Don't you tell where no one is, nor yet where no one's been!

Knocks and footsteps round the house -- whistles after dark --
You've no call for running out till the house-dogs bark.
Trusty's here, and Pincher's here, and see how dumb they lie --
They don't fret to follow when the Gentlemen go by!

If you do as you've been told, 'likely there's a chance,
You'll be given a dainty doll, all the way from France,
With a cap of Valenciennes, and a velvet hood --
A present from the Gentlemen, along o' being good!
Five and twenty ponies,
Trotting through the dark --
Brandy for the Parson,
'Baccy for the Clerk;
Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie --
Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!

Comments

[dine]

I have always loved that poem!

[sovay]

I didn't know this setting! I am familiar with Peter Bellamy's. Thanks for the introduction.

[cmcmck]

I know two members of the New Scorpion Band, Tim and Brian who are such a pair of sweethearts.

[we_are_spc]

I like it. :d

I found a version with children singing it, too, and it was delightful.

-T~

[minoanmiss]

omg link plz

[we_are_spc]

Give me a mo, it was in the "Watch" deals underneath the original link. Let me see if I can find it again.

ETA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIuJypFksSQ Found it.

The one that showed up for me was Robin Jeffreys. Need to find the other versions. xd

-T~

[minoanmiss]

rhank you!

[acelightning73]

I wish someone would set "The Road Through The Woods" to music (Even Leslie, if she has a mind to), if there's a need to Kippl. (Although I also do have a soft spot for "The Engineers' Hymn") "Oh.... you have what you wanted, no need to ask where it came from and how it got here."