The Trooper

Collected by Bob Copper in about 1954 from Jim Barrett, at the Fox in North Waltham, Hants: see Chapter Fifteen, pp. 123-134, of Songs and Southern Breezes for the details; and the appendix for these words.

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In London's fair city a fair maid did dwell,
For style and for beauty there's no tongue can tell,
For style and for beauty there's no tongue can tell,
If her husband he was a bold trooper.
Chorus
Tie-invi-ti-ie
Tel-orum-tel-ie.
And her husband he was a bold trooper.

There was an old tailor who lived close by,
And unto this woman he casted his eye.
Ten guineas I'll give you this night for to sleep,
If your husband's out upon duty.
Chorus

The bargain was made and they both went to bed
They had not been there long before they fell fast asleep.
O, hide me, O hide me, the tailor he cried,
I heard the bold knock of the trooper.
Chorus

There's a three-cornered cupboard behind my room door
And there I can hide you so safe and so sure,
And there I can hide you so safe and so sure,
If you heard the bold knock of the trooper.
Chorus

She went down the stairs for to welcome him in,
Your kisses or compliments I don't care a hang,
Your kisses or compliments I don't care a hang,
Come, light me a fire, said the trooper.
Chorus

Dear husband, dear husband, there's no fire stuff,
We'll both go to bed and we'll feel warm enough,
We'll both go to bed and we'll feel warm enough,
No, come light me a fire, said the trooper.
Chorus

There's a three-cornered cupboard behind my room door,
And that I can burn I'm so safe and so sure,
And that I can burn I'm so safe and so sure,
Come, light me a fire, said the trooper.
Chorus

O, no, said the woman that's not my desire
For to burn a good cupboard to light you a fire,
For in there I keeps a game cock I do admire.
Then I'll see your game cock, said the trooper.
Chorus

He walks up the stairs and he opens the door
And there sits the tailor so safe and so sure,
He gave him a knock to the middle of the floor
Saying, Is this your game cock, said the trooper.
Chorus

He puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out his shears,
And onto the table he cut his two ears,
Saying, For my night's lodging I've paid very dear.
And away walked the poor cropped tailor.
Chorus

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