A popular song from 1894, sung in the British music hall.
Words and music by Fred Gilbert.
Sheet music provided by Ross Boyle:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Twelve months ago with decent chances
Prospects of success in life
Thro’ foolish love of ballroom dances
Trouble came, I met my wife
Such a noble buxom creature
She in my eyes then appeared
False she was, though fair of feather
Like to salmon I was speared
Chorus
She told me her age was five and twenty
Cash in the bank of course she’d plenty
I like a lamb believed it all, I was an MUG
At Trinity church I met my doom
Now we live in a top back room
Up to my eyes in debt for “renty”
That’s what she’s done for me
- In bridal dress with frills and flounces
‘Pon my word, she did look fine
Quite sixteen stone and some odd ounces
Weighed then this dear wife of mine
People whispered she had money
(Oh! what tales some folks will tell
She was simply sixteen stoney
What a swindle, what a sell - When she confessed I’d scarce believe her
Though at last the truth she told
She hadn’t got a blooming stiver
She was thirty-six years old
I can only grin and bear it
Poor indeed is my estate
She, poor gal, is forced to share it
Down will drop her mortal weight
Sung here by Fred Feild: