Probably printed for sale at the opening of the completed line in 1838.
NOW folks I will tell you, although I'm no clown¹,
By steam you may ride with speed up and down,
Now that's all the go, and I'll tell you for why,
The people are eager to learn for to fly.
Chorus: You may travel by steam, so the folks say
All the world over, on the railway.
The day that it opened I recollect well,
What bustle there was in the morning I'll tell,
With lads and young lasses so buxom¹ and gay,
Delighted and talking about the railway,
To view the railroad away they do go,
As a great undertaking you very well know,
It surpasses all others, believe me its true,
There's a tunnel a mile you will have to go thro'.
There are coaches and carts to accomodate all,
The lame and the lazy, the great and the small,
If you wish for to ride, to be sure you must pay,
To see all the fun that's upon the railway.
The cobbler left all the old shoes in his shop,
Old women on crutches were seen for to hop,
The tailor, his customers would not obey,
But rode on his 'goose¹ to see the railway ! !
What a treat for young lovers to Gretna_Greenº !
The blacksmith will tie the knot for them by steam,
With his hammer and anvil he'll make them obey,
And pack them off snugly upon the railway.
There was dumpling Bet with Jack the moonraker¹,
And buxom young Kate with the butcher and baker,
And black Sall from Sandgate with two wooden legs,
To see the railroad how she trudged on her pegs!
In London I've heard there is a machine
Invented for making young children by steam;
Such dear little creatures, full thirty a day,
Fur young engineer(1)s, to supply the railway
Talk of ships on the sea !-why that is all stuff¹
By water or land you may ride safe enough ;-
If you have got money your passage to pay
You may ride to the devil upon the railway.
So now my good fellows then let us be free,
Again fill your glasses and merry we'll be;
Success to all trades in the reign of our queen,
And the boiling hot water that raises the steam.
[No 193]