The Pickpocket’s Chaunt [Notes]
[By W. MAGINN: being a translation of Vidocq’s song, “En roulant de vergne en vergne”].
I
As from ken to ken I was going, [1]
Doing a bit on the prigging lay, [2]
Who should I meet but a jolly blowen, [3]
Tol lol, lol lol, tol dirol lay;
Who should I meet but a jolly blowen,
Who was fly to the time of day. [4]
II
Who should I meet but a jolly blowen,
Who was fly to the time of day,
I pattered in flash like a covey knowing, [5]
Tol, lol, etc.
‘Ay, bub or grubby, I say?’ [6]
III
I pattered in flash like a covey knowing,
‘Ay, bub or grubby, I say?”
‘Lots of gatter,’ says she, is flowing [7]
Tol lol, etc.
Lend me a lift in the family way. [8]
IV
Lots of gatter, says she, is flowing
Lend me a lift in the family way.
You may have a crib to stow in.
Tol lol, etc.
Welcome, my pal, as the flowers in May.
V
You may have a crib to stow in,
Welcome, my pal, as the flowers in May.
To her ken at once I go in
Tol lol, etc.
Where in a corner out of the way,
VI
To her ken at once I go in.
Where in a corner out of the way
With his smeller a trumpet blowing [9]
Tol lol, etc.
A regular swell cove lushy lay. [10]
VII
With his smeller a trumpet blowing
A regular swell cove lushy lay,
To his clies my hooks I throw in [11]
Tol lol, etc.
And collar his dragons clear away. [12]
VIII
To his clies my hooks I throw in,
And collar his dragons clear away
Then his ticker I set agoing, [13]
Tol lol, etc.
And his onions, chain, and key. [14]
IX
Then his ticker I set a going
And his onions, chain, and key
Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing,
Tol lol, etc.
And his ginger head topper gay. [15]
X
Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing
And his ginger head topper gay.
Then his other toggery stowing, [16]
Tol lol, etc.
All with the swag I sneak away. [17]
XI
Then his other toggery stowing
All with the swag I sneak away.
Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen,
Tol lol, etc.
Or be grabbed by the beaks we may. [18]
XII
Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen
Or be grabbed by the beaks we may.
And we shall caper a-heel and toeing,
Tol lol, etc.
A Newgate hornpipe some fine day. [19]
XIII
And we shall caper a-heel and toeing
A Newgate hornpipe some fine day
With the mots their ogles throwing [20]
Tol lol, etc.
And old Cotton humming his pray. [21]
XIV
With the mots their ogles throwing
And old Cotton humming his pray,
And the fogle hunters doing
Tol lol, etc.
Their morning fake in the prigging lay.
[1: shop; house] [2: thieving] [3: girl, strumpet, sweetheart] [4: ’cute in business] [5: spoke in slang] [6: drink and food] [7: porter, beer] [8: family = fraternity of thieves] [9: nose] [10: gentleman; drunk] [11: pockets; fingers] [12: take his sovereigns] [13: watch] [14: seals] [15: hat] [16: clothes] [17: plunder] [18: taken; police] [19: hanging] [20: girl’s; eyes] [21: Notes]