John Hamilton

Martin Carthy

John Hamilton wagered a wager four hundred guineas and ten

That he would go down London City and never speak aught but sing



Chorus:

So/and/still he sang, tay-i-adelty, tay-i-adelty tan

So he sang, eeti-fi-adelty, tay-i-adelty tan



Policeman come running and shouting, "A madman's coming along

Soon we shall see who he is and we'll soon put an end to his song."



Chorus



They took him before the justice to see who he could be

Still he sang eeti-fi-adelty, on with his singing went he



Brought him some pen and some paper to see if he could write

Still he sang eeti-fi-adelty, on with his singing all night



Chorus



Come running the justice's daughter, a beautiful woman was she

Saw John Hamilton singing and on him she cast her eye



"Daddy go open the chamber and let the young gentleman in

See that you use him genteelly and give him a bottle of wine."



Chorus



John Hamilton put his hand in his pocket, he made [?] a shilling to fly

Give a gold ring to the lady and on with his singing went he



Chorus



John Hamilton won him a wager four hundred guineas and ten

Went home with the justice's daughter and that put an end to his song



She loved him for crackling his fingers, she loved him for singing a song

Loved him for eeti-fi-adelty, tay-i-adelty tan



Chorus