Limbo

Lyrics

[Verse 1] I am a young man and my fortune is bad If e'er I get rich 'tis a wonder I've spent all my money on girls and strong beer What riches I have are all plundered Field after field to market I sent Till my land was all gone and my money all spent My heart was so hard that I ne'er could repent 'Twas that that brought me to Limbo [Verse 2] Well, once I could run while others do lie And strut like a crow in the gutter The people all said that saw me pass by "There goes Mr. Fop in a fluttеr" To the top and top-gallant I hoisted my sail With a fine rich cravat and a wig with three tails But now I am rеady to gnaw my own nails And drink the cold waters of Limbo [Instrumental Break] [Verse 3] I had an old uncle lived down in the West When he heard of my sad disaster Poor soul, after that he could never take rest His struggles came faster and faster He came to the jail to view my sad case As soon as I saw him I knew his old face I stood gazing on him like one in amaze And wished myself safe out of Limbo [Verse 4] "Jack, if I should set you once more on your legs And put you in credit and fashion Oh, will you leave off these old rakish ways And try for to govern your passion?" "Yes, Uncle," says I, "If you will set me free I surely will always be ruled by thee And I'll labour my bones for the good of my soul And pay them for laying me in Limbo" [Verse 5] He took from his pocket three thousand pounds And counted it out in bright guineas When I was free from the prison gates I went to see Peggy and Jeannie My old ragged old clothes, they knew not of my gold They turned me all out in the wet and the cold You'd a-laughed for to hear how those hussies did scold They jawed me for laying in Limbo [Verse 6] Well, I hadn't been there such a very short time My pockets they then fell a-picking I banged them as long as my cane I could hold Until they fell coughing and kicking The one called out "Murder," the other did scold I banged them as long as my cane I could hold I banged their old bodies for the good of their souls And paid them for laying me in Limbo