The Football Match

It's of a football match, my boys, most glorious to be seen
Of six young rippling lads who played on Salisbury plain
A health unto the rippling lads, and so the game goes on:
     You rippling lads, huzzah! You're sure to win the day,
     You will gain the prize, and you'll carry it away.

The ball being thrown up, my boys, the game it did begin
Good Lord, how they did kick it, more like devils than like men.
Having such a notion, kicking it along:

The ball being thrown up, my boys, the game it did draw nigh
But Jackson stuck his penknife into young Wilson's thigh
A health unto the rippling lads, and so the game goes on:

Young Johnson aimed at the ball, it was his his full intent
But then he missed his aim and right through the goal he went
A health unto the rippling lads, and so the game goes on:

And so the game went on, my lads, for full ten hours or more
Until at last, through skilful play, Johnson he did score
A health unto the rippling lads, and so the game goes on:

And now the game is won, my boys, to the inn they did repair
To drink the health of every man in cider and strong beer
All resolved to meet again upon another year:


© Golden Hind Music