Tune: A Tale Of The Mile End Road
PADDY'S MARKET ON A SATURDAYYou'd like to do a ramble,The fleetin' hours do chase, Just stroll down some evening, To Paddy's Market place, On Saturday's about nine, When flks are doing their shopping, And steam organs 'Annie Rooney' play And ginger beer corks go popping, Little girls are laughing, joking, Round the ice-cream man's stall, Little boys are cigarettes smoking, Punch and Judy call. Here's “Baked potatoes,” “Roasted peanuts,” “only a penny for the whole lot,” “Try your weight gents,” “Whose another?” “Make the pool up. A penny a shot.” Chorus Jolly and happy, sad and gloomy, Old and young enjoying the sight, Friendly greetings, lover's meetings, At Paddy's market on Saturday night. The “Echo,” “The Evening News,” and 'Star,” The “Bird,” too, goes flying by; While sweet little lasses, ask all passes, To buy a penny “War Cry.” Tom and his Donah they travel To the dance, juts over the way, And into the market they pop To buy a sweet little “bokay.” A young wife with a basket, Looking so happy and gay, Looks up her husband, “Dear 'Arry, What'll we have for dinner, do say?” Then the old lady sells poultry Just gives her arm a soft squeeze, “Take my advice dear, nothing so nice, than a young duck and green peas.” McNutly, whose got a bad cold, A muffler buys for his throat, And Duffy comes down in his shirt-sleeves Just to buy a most “illigent coat.” McGuinness stands nursing a baby, Gorman nails a nice sucking pig, And Duffy walks home from a Jew With a coat four sizes too big. A roar and a crowd comes along, A struggle that is very brief. Abd forth from the crowd is drawn A poor little white-faced thief. “Have mercy, sir. Oh! God help me! I'm friendless, and wretched and lone, Oh, what will my poor mother say When the news of my crime reaches home?” Spoken: “Don't take me, sir. I was starving and I stole but a little food.” Just then the gaslight fell full upon the boy's face, the constable released his hold, the terror-stricken boy darts away, and the crowd cheer. The thief was the constable's long lost brother. SITE SOURCE: Sydney Folklore Project - Section 14: CITY LIFE |