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Title
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Jarvis the coachman
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Singer
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Harvey, Henry [Wassail]
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Song Lyrics
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Verse 1
I'm Jarvis the coachman well known,
And a coachman I've been for some years,
To drive up and down in the town,
Without any danger or fears;
Till some gentlemen wanted a coach,
Some gentlemen they seemed for to be -
But, had I a-known their design,
Old Nick should have driven them, not me.
Verse 2
At Chelsea I was late one night,
I then began to know my doom,
Three gentlemen hailed me at sight,
All for to be took to their home;
They made me drive out of my road,
Till some man hung in chains I could see -
But had I a-known their design,
Old Nick should have driven them, not me.
Verse 3
They made me drive under the gibbet,
They made me drive under it straight,
And swore that up to the top,
I should immediately get
And fetch that young gentleman down,
For no longer there he should be -
But had I a-known their design,
Old Nick should have driven them, not me.
Verse 4
They put a rope round my middle,
And drew me to the top of the tree,
Then off with my coach and horses
They galloped most speedily;
I whooped, I holloaed, I bawled,
Till at length some bold butcher came by,
It frightened the poor butcher's horse,
For he thought 'twas a dead man's cry.
Verse 5
Till at length some bold brick maker came by,
I asked him to lower the rope,
It frightened the brick maker so,
He swore that the man in chains spoke;
I asked him to lend me an ear,
Then he cut me down from the tree -
But had I a-known their design,
Old Nick should have driven them, not me.
