This song is based on a poem by Francois Villon (c.1431-1463), “Toute aux tavernes et aux filles,” which was translated into English by W. E. Henley (1849-1903) as “Villon’s Straight Tip To All Cross Coves” (1887). Henley’s translation, using thieves' cant, forms the lyrics of this song.
Suppose you screeve, or go cheap-jack?
Or fake the broads? or fig a nag?
Or thimble-rig? or knap a yack?
Or pitch a snide? or smash a rag?
Suppose you duff? or nose and lag?
Or get the straight, and land your pot?
How do you melt the multy swag?
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Fiddle, or fence, or mace, or mack;
Or moskeneer, or flash the drag;
Dead-lurk a crib, or do a crack;
Pad with a slang, or chuck a fag;
Bonnet, or tout, or mump and gag;
Rattle the tats, or mark the spot
You cannot bank a single stag:
The booze and the blowens cop the lot
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Suppose you try a different tack
And on the square you flash your flag?
At penny-a-lining make your whack
Or with the mummers mug and gag?
For nix, for nix the dibbs you bag
At any graft, no matter what!
Your merry goblins soon stravag:
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
It’s up-the-spout and Charley-Wag
With wipes and tickers and what not!
Until the squeezer nips your scrag
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Suppose you screeve, or go cheap-jack?
Or fake the broads? or fig a nag?
Or thimble-rig? or knap a yack?
Or pitch a snide? or smash a rag?
Suppose you duff? or nose and lag?
Or get the straight, and land your pot?
How do you melt the multy swag?
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Fiddle, or fence, or mace, or mack;
Or moskeneer, or flash the drag;
Dead-lurk a crib, or do a crack;
Pad with a slang, or chuck a fag;
Bonnet, or tout, or mump and gag;
Rattle the tats, or mark the spot
You cannot bank a single stag:
The booze and the blowens cop the lot
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Suppose you try a different tack
And on the square you flash your flag?
At penny-a-lining make your whack
Or with the mummers mug and gag?
For nix, for nix the dibbs you bag
At any graft, no matter what!
Your merry goblins soon stravag:
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
It’s up-the-spout and Charley-Wag
With wipes and tickers and what not!
Until the squeezer nips your scrag
Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Booze and the blowens cop the lot