The Flash Man of St. Giles [Notes] [B. 1790]
[From The Busy Bee].
I was a flash man of St. Giles, [1]
And I fell in love with Nelly Stiles;
And I padded the hoof for many miles [2]
To show the strength of my flame:
In the Strand, and at the Admiralty,
She pick’d up the flats as they pass’d by, [3]
And I mill’d their wipes from their side clye, [4]
And then sung fal de ral tit, tit fal de ral,
Tit fal de ree, and then sung fal de ral tit!
II
The first time I saw the flaming mot, [5]
Was at the sign of the Porter Pot,
I call’d for some purl, and we had it hot,
With gin and bitters too!
We threw off our slang at high and low, [6]
And we were resolv’d to breed a row
For we both got as drunk as David’s sow, [7]
And then sung fal de ral tit, etc.
III
As we were roaring forth a catch,
(’Twas twelve o’clock) we wak’d the watch,
I at his jazy made a snatch, [8]
And try’d for to nab his rattle! [9]
But I miss’d my aim and down I fell,
And then he charg’d both me and Nell,
And bundled us both to St. Martin’s cell
Where we sung fal de ral tit, etc.
IV
We pass’d the night in love away,
And ’fore justice H— we went next day,
And because we could not three hog pay, [10]
Why we were sent to quod! [11]
In quod we lay three dismal weeks,
Till Nell with crying swell’d her cheeks,
And I damn’d the quorum all for sneaks
And then sung fal de ral tit, etc.
V
From Bridewell bars we now are free,
And Nell and I so well agree,
That we live in perfect harmony,
And grub and bub our fill! [12]
For we have mill’d a precious go [13]
And queer’d the flats at thrums, E, O,
Every night in Titmouse Row,
Where we sing fal de ral tit, etc.
VI
All you who live at your wit’s end,
Unto this maxim pray attend,
Never despair to find a friend,
While flats have bit aboard!
For Nell and I now keep a gig,
And look so grand, so flash and big,
We roll in every knowing rig [14]
While we sing fal de ral tit, etc.
[1: Notes] [2: walked] [3: victims] [4: stole handkerchiefs; side pocket] [5: girl, whore] [6: talking noisily] [7: Notes] [8: wig] [9: steal] [10: shilling] [11: prison] [12: eat and drink] [13: made a rich haul] [14: are up to every move]