Poll of Horsely-down.
Ye landsmen and ye seamen,Be you a-head or astern,Come listen unto me,And a story you shall learn;It's of one Captain OakumThat you shall quickly hear,Who was the bold CommanderOf the Peggy Privateer;And he his colours never struck,so great was his renown,No never to one soul on earth,But Poll of Horsely-down.
Miss Polly was a first-rate,Truck'd out in flashy gear,And Captain Oakum met her,As to Wapping he did steer; And as he stood a-viewing her,And thinking of no hurt,A Porter passing with a load,Capsiz’d him in the dirt!Then taking out his ’bacco box,That cost him half-a-crown,He took a quid and heav’d a sighTo Poll of Horsely-down.
He soon found out Poll’s father,And dress’d in rich array,He got permission for to court,And so got under weigh ;Miss Polly she receiv’d himAll for a lover true,And quite enamoratedOf her he quickly grew:He squir’d and convey’d herAll over London Town,Until the day was fixed.To wed with Poll of Horsely-down
But Poll she was a knowing one,As you shall quickly find;And as for. Captain Oakum,Pure love had made him blind:One morning, in her chamber,He found a cockney lout,So Captain hov’d the window up,And chuck'd the gem’man out;Then cock’d his arms a-kimbo,And looking with a frown.He took a quid, and bid good-byeTo Poll of Horsely-down.