For other versions of this work, see The Drunken Exciseman.
SONGS.
THE DRUNKEN EXCISEMAN.
I KNOW that young folks like to hear a new song,
Of something that's funny and not very long,
It is of an Exciseman the truth I will tell,
Who thought that one night he was going to hell.
Fal de lal, &c
Of something that's funny and not very long,
It is of an Exciseman the truth I will tell,
Who thought that one night he was going to hell.
Fal de lal, &c
One night he went out to look for his prey;
He did meet with some smugglers, as I heard them say,
In tasting the liquors they were going to sell,
The Exciseman got drunk, the truth I will tell.
He did meet with some smugglers, as I heard them say,
In tasting the liquors they were going to sell,
The Exciseman got drunk, the truth I will tell.
He got so intoxicated he fell to the ground,
And like a fat sow was forced to lie down,
Just nigh to a coal pit the Exciseman did lie,
When four or five colliers by chance did come by.
And like a fat sow was forced to lie down,
Just nigh to a coal pit the Exciseman did lie,
When four or five colliers by chance did come by.
They shouldered him up and hoised him away,
Like a pedlar's pack, without any delay;
Into the bucket they landed him down,
This jolly Exciseman they got under ground.
Like a pedlar's pack, without any delay;
Into the bucket they landed him down,
This jolly Exciseman they got under ground.
The Exciseman awakened with terrible fear,
Upstarted a collier, says what brought you hear,
Indeed Mr Devil, I don't very well know,
But I think I am come to the regions below.
Upstarted a collier, says what brought you hear,
Indeed Mr Devil, I don't very well know,
But I think I am come to the regions below.
Says the collier, what was you in the world above,
I was an Exciseman and few did me love;
Indeed Mr. Devil the truth I will tell,
Since I've got here, I'll be what you will.
I was an Exciseman and few did me love;
Indeed Mr. Devil the truth I will tell,
Since I've got here, I'll be what you will.
Since you're an Exciseman, here you must remain,
You will never get out of this dark cell again;
The gates they are fast, and bind you secure.
All this you must suffer for robbing the poor.
You will never get out of this dark cell again;
The gates they are fast, and bind you secure.
All this you must suffer for robbing the poor.
Indeed Mr. Devil if you'll pity me,
No more will I rob the poor, you shall see;
If you will look over, as you've done before,
I never will rob the poor any more.
No more will I rob the poor, you shall see;
If you will look over, as you've done before,
I never will rob the poor any more.
Come give me your money, which now I demand,
Before you can get to the christian land,
O yes, Mr. Devil, the Exciseman did say,
I wish to get back, for to see light of day.
Before you can get to the christian land,
O yes, Mr. Devil, the Exciseman did say,
I wish to get back, for to see light of day.