Arthur O'bradley Lyrics - The Full English - The Full English

Come neighbours and listen a while 

If ever you wish for to smile 

Or hear a true story of old, 

Attend to what I do unfold. 

A fella whose fame did resound 

Through every village and town, 

For fun, for frolic and whim, 

None ever was equal to him. 

Arthur being stout and bold, 

Near upon thirty years old. 

He needs a-wooing must go 

To get him a lady, you know. 

So getting young Dolly's consent, 

Away to be married they went. 

To make himself noble appear 

He mounted the old padded mare. 

Come neighbours and listen a while 

If ever you wish for to smile 

Or hear a true story of old, 

Attend to what I do unfold. 

Then he packed up his drudgery horse 

And put on his holiday clothes. 

His coat it was scarlet so fine, 

Full trimmed with buttons behind. 

Two sleeves it had, it is true, 

One yellow, the other was blue. 

The cuffs and capes of green, 

The longest that ever were seen. 

His hat, though greasy and tore, 

Cocked up with a feather before. 

Under his chin it was tied 

With a strip from an old cow's hide. 

His breeches three times had been turned 

And two holes in the left side were burned. 

This was a misfortune, you'll say, 

But still he looked gallant and gay. 

Thus kitted away he did ride, 

Whilst Dolly did trudge by his side, 

Till coming up to the church door 

Amid five thousand or more. 

Then from the old mare he did 'light 

Which put the poor clerk in a fright. 

And the parson so dreadfully shook 

That he presently dropped down his book. 

Which Arthur soon picked up again 

And swore that he must now begin, 

Crying, "Dolly, my dearie, come hither 

And let us be married together." 

Chorus 

The parson, his duty discharged 

Without any fee or reward, 

He swore no money he'd have 

And poor Arthur had none him to give. 

To make him a little amends 

He invited him home with his friends, 

Take a sweet kiss on the bride 

And eat a good dinner beside. 

The dishes though few were good, 

Sweetest of all living food. 

There was roast guinea pig and a bantam, 

Sheep's head stewed in a lanthorn. 

Two calves feet and a bull's trotter, 

The fore and hind legs of an otter, 

Lampfish, lippets and dabs, 

Crayfish, cockles and crabs. 

Red herrings and sprats by the dozen 

To feast all his uncles and cousins 

Who were so well pleased with the treat, 

Heartily they did all eat. 

Chorus 

The guests being well satisfied, 

The dishes were laid on one side. 

And Arthur, to make their hearts merry, 

Brought pale ale, perkin and perry. 

"Come, give us a dance," quoth Doll, 

"Come, Geoffrey, and play us Mad Moll. 

'Tis time to be merry and frisky, 

But first let us have some more whisky. 

"My lily, my lark, my love, 

My daffy down dilly, my dove, 

My everything and my wife, 

I ne'er was so pleased in my life." 

The pipers then screwed up their bags 

And the girls began shaking their rags. 

Whilst some only one leg had gotten 

And that which they had it was rotten. 

The parson let off at the top; 

Some danced, while the others did hop. 

There was lead up and down, figure in, 

Cross hands and then back again. 

Dancing they spent the whole night 

Till Phoebus appeared in their sight, 

When each took a kiss of the bride 

And hopped to his own fireside. 

Come neighbours and listen a while 

If ever you wish for to smile 

Or hear a true story of old, 

Attend to what I do unfold.