Billy Barlow (1836 – Endicott)

BILLY BARLOW

(Published 1836, Geo. Endicott, NY)

Now ladies and gentlemen how do you do

I come out before you with one boot and one shoe

I don’t how ’tis, but some how ’tis so

Now isn’t it hard upon Billy Barlow

O dear, raggedy o, Now isn’t it hard upon Billy Barlow

Do show me a boarding house where I can stay

I’m so hungry and sleepy, I eat nothing today

They’ll not let me in, at Astor’s I know

But a market stall’s vacant for Billy Barlow

O dear, raggedy o,

 
There’s a market stall vacant for Billy Barlow

As I went down the street, the other fine day

I met two fair ladies just coming this way

says one “-now that chap, he isn’t so slow”

“I guess not” says the other, “that’s Mr. Barlow”

O dear, raggedy o,

“I guess not” says the other, “that’s Mr. Barlow”

I’m told there’s a show coming into the town

Red lions and monkeys and porcupines brown

But if they should show, I shall beat them I know

For they’ve never a varmint like Billy Barlow….

Oh dear but I’m tired of this kind of life

I wish in my soul I could find a good wife;

If there’s any young lady here, in want of a beau

Let her fly to the arms of sweet Billy Barlow….

No ladies and gemmen, I bid you good-bye

I’ll buy a new suit when clothes ain’t so high

my hat’s shocking bad, as all of you know

but looks well on the head of Billy Barlow…