The Song of the Young Prig [Notes] [c. 1819]
My mother she dwelt in Dyot’s Isle, [1]
One of the canting crew, sirs; [2]
And if you’d know my father’s style,
He was the Lord-knows-who, sirs!
I first held horses in the street,
But being found defaulter,
Turned rumbler’s flunkey for my meat, [3]
So was brought up to the halter.
Frisk the cly, and fork the rag, [4]
Draw the fogies plummy, [5]
Speak to the rattles, bag the swag, [6]
And finely hunt the dummy. [7]
II
My name they say is young Birdlime,
My fingers are fish-hooks, sirs;
And I my reading learnt betime, [8]
From studying pocket-books, sirs;
I have a sweet eye for a plant, [9]
And graceful as I amble,
Finedraw a coat-tail sure I can’t
So kiddy is my famble. [10]
Chorus. Frisk the cly, etc.
III
A night bird oft I’m in the cage, [11]
But my rum-chants ne’er fail, sirs;
The dubsman’s senses to engage, [12]
While I tip him leg-bail, sirs; [13]
There’s not, for picking, to be had,
A lad so light and larky, [14]
The cleanest angler on the pad [15]
In daylight or the darkey. [16]
Chorus. Frisk the cly, etc.
IV
And though I don’t work capital, [17]
And do not weigh my weight, sirs;
Who knows but that in time I shall,
For there’s no queering fate, sirs. [18]
If I’m not lagged to Virgin-nee, [19]
I may a Tyburn show be, [20]
Perhaps a tip-top cracksman be, [21]
Or go on the high toby. [22]
Chorus. Frisk the cly, etc.
[1: Notes] [2: beggars] [3: hackney-coach] [4: pick a pocket; lay hold of notes or money] [5: steal handkerchiefs dextrously] [6: steal a watch, pocket the plunder] [7: steal pocket-books] [8: Notes] [9: an intended robbery] [10: skilful is my hand] [11: lock-up] [12: gaoler] [13: run away] [14: frolicsome] [15: expert pickpocket] [16: night] [17: Notes] [18: getting the better of] [19: transported [Notes]] [20: be hanged] [21: housebreaker] [22: become a highwayman]