Tony Rose - Limbo lyrics

I am a young lad and my fortune is bad, What riches I had is all plundered; I've spent all my money on girls and strong beer, And if ever I get rich 't is a wonder. It's field after field to market I sent Till my land was all gone and my money all spent. My heart was so hard I could never repent, And 't was that what brought me to Limbo. Oh once I could run whilst others did lie, And strut like a crow in the gutter. And the people all said as they saw me pa** by, "There goes Mr. Fop in a flutter." To the top and top-gallants I hoisted my sails, With a fine rich cravat and a wig with three tails, But now I am ready to gnaw my own nails, And drink the cold water of Limbo. I had an old uncle, lived down in the West, And when he heard of my sad disaster, Poor soul! After that he could ne'er take a rest, And his troubles came faster and faster. He came to the gaol for to view my sad case, And as soon as I saw him I knew his old face. I stood gazing on him like one in amaze And wished myself safe out of Limbo. "Oh Jack, if I set you once more on your legs And put you in credit and fashion, It's will you leave off of these old rakish ways And try for to govern your pa**ion?" "Yes Uncle," says I, "if you will set me free, I surely will always be ruled by thee. And I'll labour my bones for the good of my soul And pay them for laying me in Limbo." He pulled out his purse with three thousand pounds And counted it out in bright guineas, And when I was free from the old prison gates I went to see Peggy and Jeannie. In my ragged old clothes they knew none of my gold And they threw me all out in the wet and the cold. You'd a-laughed out to see how those hussies did scold, And jaw me for laying in Limbo. I hadn't been there for a very long time When my pockets they fell a-picking, I banged them as long as my cane I could hold Until they fell coughing and kicking. Then one cried out "Murder!", the other did scold; I banged them as long as my cane I could hold. I banged their old bodies for the good of their soul And paid them for laying me in Limbo.