Billy and Polly

Billy and Polly

BILLY.

Hark hark my charming Polly!
Hark how the war calls for me,
Hark now the silver trumpets sound,
Which calls us all to Flanders ground:
Although I leave you, don’t complain
At the thoughts of my being slain,
For I safely shall return again,
My Polly dear, my Polly dear.

POLLY.

O Billy! talk not of parting!
It sets my heart a smarting,
The tormet that lies in my breast,
No tongue is able to express:
My eyes shall flow with floods of tears,
At the thoughts of wars and fears,
Least you be slain by the Monsieurs,
My Billy dear! my Billy dear!

BILLY.

O Polly! here’s a token,
A piece of gold is broken,
And if ever I prove to thee,
May the heav’ns above my witness be:
Where e’er I go, by land or sea,
In the midst of my extremity,
My thoughts shall always be on thee,
My Polly dear! my Polly dear!

POLLY.

O Billy! you may believe me,
I never will deceive thee,
For I’ll dress myself in man’s attire,
And follow you through smoke and fire;
And when to Flanders we do come,
There I’ll learn to beat the drum,
With a rap tap tow, and drum, drum drum,
My Billy dear! my Billy dear!

BILLY.

O my dear charming Polly!
It makes me melancholy,
For when we come where cannons roar,
You’ll think no more on me, no more:
And should the grim messenger of death
Deprive you of your precious breath,
I of all joys shall be bereft,
My Polly dear! my Polly dear!

POLLY.

Alas! my charming Billy!
Since I [cannot go] with thee,
Give me thine hand, I’ll bid adieu,
My thoughts shall always be on you,
And when you cross the roaring main,
May you survive when men are slain,
And may you safe return again
To your Polly dear, your Polly dear.

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ESTC Citation Number: W33503