Backblock Ballads and Later Verses/The Joy Ride
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
The Joy Ride
Ah, Gawd! It makes me sick to think
Of what I 'eard an' seen:
Poor 'Arry like a wet rag flung
Across the wrecked machine;
An' Rose, 'er face all chiner-white
Against the gory green.
Of what I 'eard an' seen:
Poor 'Arry like a wet rag flung
Across the wrecked machine;
An' Rose, 'er face all chiner-white
Against the gory green.
Now 'Arry Cox 'e drives a car
For Doctor Percy Gray.
Sez 'e to me: "On Sund'y nex'
The Doc will be away.
'Ow is it for a little trip
To Fernville for the day?
For Doctor Percy Gray.
Sez 'e to me: "On Sund'y nex'
The Doc will be away.
'Ow is it for a little trip
To Fernville for the day?
"I know two bonzer girls," 'e sez;
"Fair stunners, both, they are.
There's Rose who serves behind the joint
In Mudge's privit bar,
An' Lena Crump who jerks the pump
Down at the Southern Star."
"Fair stunners, both, they are.
There's Rose who serves behind the joint
In Mudge's privit bar,
An' Lena Crump who jerks the pump
Down at the Southern Star."
Now, who'd refuse a Sund'y trip
With girls an' all give in?
The car was there an' oil to spare.
To rat would be a sin!
An' who'd refuse a drop o' booze
When pals is flush o' tin?
With girls an' all give in?
The car was there an' oil to spare.
To rat would be a sin!
An' who'd refuse a drop o' booze
When pals is flush o' tin?
Wot all the courts an' papers say
Can't add to my distress. . . .
Rose, with the blood upon 'er face
An' on 'er crumpled dress!
An that poor chump who got the bump—
Ah, Gawd! 'E was a mess!
Can't add to my distress. . . .
Rose, with the blood upon 'er face
An' on 'er crumpled dress!
An that poor chump who got the bump—
Ah, Gawd! 'E was a mess!
The girls 'ad stout at ten mile out,
An' we was drinkin' beer.
I swear they lies like 'ell who sez
That we was on our ear!
For we was both, I take me oath,
As sober as me here.
An' we was drinkin' beer.
I swear they lies like 'ell who sez
That we was on our ear!
For we was both, I take me oath,
As sober as me here.
Now, Lena was a dashin' piece,
'Igh-spirited an' flash.
'Twas plain enough to me that day
That 'Arry'd done 'is dash.
An' Rose—(Ah! how 'er eyes did stare)
Rose was my speshul mash.
'Igh-spirited an' flash.
'Twas plain enough to me that day
That 'Arry'd done 'is dash.
An' Rose—(Ah! how 'er eyes did stare)
Rose was my speshul mash.
It's easy now fer folks to talk
Who might 'ave done the same.
We meant no 'arm to anyone,
An' 'Arry knew 'is game.
'Twas like a flash, the skid—the crash.
An' we was not to blame.
Who might 'ave done the same.
We meant no 'arm to anyone,
An' 'Arry knew 'is game.
'Twas like a flash, the skid—the crash.
An' we was not to blame.
I wisht I could shut out that sight;
Fer git that awful row!
Poor Rose! 'Er face all chiner-white,
Like I can see it now;
An' 'Arry like a heap o' clothes
Jist chucked there any'ow.
Fer git that awful row!
Poor Rose! 'Er face all chiner-white,
Like I can see it now;
An' 'Arry like a heap o' clothes
Jist chucked there any'ow.
They sez we painted Fernville red;
They sez that we was gay;
But wot come after dulls me mind
To wot them liars say.
We never dreamed of death an' 'ell
When we set out that day.
They sez that we was gay;
But wot come after dulls me mind
To wot them liars say.
We never dreamed of death an' 'ell
When we set out that day.
'Twas ev'nin' when we turned for 'ome
The moon shone full that night;
An' for a mile or more ahead
The road lay gleamin' white;
An' Rose sat close a-side o' me,
'Er face turned to the light.
The moon shone full that night;
An' for a mile or more ahead
The road lay gleamin' white;
An' Rose sat close a-side o' me,
'Er face turned to the light.
Wot if we sung a song or two?
Wot if they 'eard us shout?
Is song an' laughter things to curse
An' make a fuss about?
"Go faster! faster!" Lena screams.
An' 'Arry let 'er out.
Wot if they 'eard us shout?
Is song an' laughter things to curse
An' make a fuss about?
"Go faster! faster!" Lena screams.
An' 'Arry let 'er out.
I'd give me soul jist to ferget.
Gawd! how 'er eyes did stare!
'Er kisses warm upon me lips,
I seen 'er lyin' there,
Blood on 'er face, all chiner-white,
An' on 'er yeller 'air.
Gawd! how 'er eyes did stare!
'Er kisses warm upon me lips,
I seen 'er lyin' there,
Blood on 'er face, all chiner-white,
An' on 'er yeller 'air.
I never took no 'eed 'o pace
(I've been on twenty trips),
An' Rose was restin' in me arms,
'Er cheek against my lips.
A precious lot I dreamed of skids,
A lot I thought o' slips.
(I've been on twenty trips),
An' Rose was restin' in me arms,
'Er cheek against my lips.
A precious lot I dreamed of skids,
A lot I thought o' slips.
I only know we never thinks—
I know we never dreams
Of folks out walkin' on that road ;
Till, sudden, Lena screams. . . .
An', after that, the sights I saw
I've seen again in dreams.
I know we never dreams
Of folks out walkin' on that road ;
Till, sudden, Lena screams. . . .
An', after that, the sights I saw
I've seen again in dreams.
We never seen the bloke ahead!
'Ow can they call us rash?
I jist seen 'Arry move to shove
'Is arm around 'is mash;
I seen 'er jump to grab the wheel,
Then, Lord ! . . . there came the smash!
'Ow can they call us rash?
I jist seen 'Arry move to shove
'Is arm around 'is mash;
I seen 'er jump to grab the wheel,
Then, Lord ! . . . there came the smash!
Aw, they can blame an' cry their shame!
It ain't for that I care.
I held 'er in my arms an' laughed . . . .
Then seen 'er lyin' there,
The moonlight streamin' on 'er face,
An' on 'er yeller hair.
It ain't for that I care.
I held 'er in my arms an' laughed . . . .
Then seen 'er lyin' there,
The moonlight streamin' on 'er face,
An' on 'er yeller hair.