A music hall song from 1864
Words and music by Harry Clifton
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Denese Coulbeck:
Lyrics
- From a village away in Leicestershire
To London here I came
To see the Exhibition and
All places of great fame
But what I suffered since I came
I now will tell to you
How I lost my heart and senses too
Thro’ a dark girl dress’d in blue
Chorus
She was a fine girl, fol de riddle I do
A charmer, fol de riddle eh
- ‘Twas on a Friday morning
The first day of August
When of that day I ever think
My heart feels ready to bust
I went in a six-penny omnibus
To the Exhibition of sixty-two
On a seat by the right hand side of the door
Sat a dark girl dress’d in blue - When we arrived in the Brompton Road
The lady looked so strange
The conductor he said, ‘Sixpence, Ma’am’
Said she, ‘I have no change
I’ve nothing less than a five pound note
Whatever shall I do?’
Said I, ‘Allow me to pay’
‘Oh thank you, sir’
Said the dark girl dress’d in blue - We chatted and talked as we onward walked
About one thing or the other
She asked me too, oh wasn’t it kind?
If I had a father or mother
Oh yes, says I, and a grandmother too
But pray, miss, what are you?
‘Oh, I’m chief engineer in a Milliner’s Shop
Says the dark girl dressed in blue’ - We walked about for an hour or two
Thro’ buildings near and far
Till we came to the grand refreshment room
I went straight up to the bar
She slipped in my hand a five pound note
I said, ‘What are you going to do?’
‘Oh don’t think it strange I must have change’
Said the dark girl dressed in blue - I called a waiter and handed him the note
And said, ‘Please change me that’
The waiter bowed and touched his hair
For this waiter wore no hat
In silver and gold five pounds he brought
I gave him coppers few
And the change of the note I then did hand
To the dark girl dressed in blue - She thanked me and said, ‘I must away
Farewell till we meet again
For I’ve got to go to Pimlico
To catch the Brighton train
She quickly glided from my sight
And soon was lost to view
I turned to leave when by my side
Stood a tall man dressed in blue - This tall man said, ‘Excuse me, sir
I’m one of the X division
That note was bad, my duty is
To take you on suspicion’
Said I, ‘For a lady I obtained the change’
He said, ‘Are you telling me true?’
Where’s she live? What’s her name?
Says I, ‘I don’t know
She was a dark girl dressed in blue - My story they believed
They thought I’d been deceived
But they said I must hand back the cash
I thought ’twas a sin as I gave them the tin
And away went five pounds smash
So all young men take my advice
Be careful what you do
When you make the acquaintance of ladies strange
Especially a ‘dark girl dressed in blue’