Mr. Punch's Model Music-hall Songs & Dramas

MP3 Audio CD. Mr. Punch's Model Music-hall Songs & Dramas

i.—THE PATRIOTIC

This stirring ditty—so thoroughly sound and practical under all its sentiment—has been specially designed to harmonise with the recently altered tone of Music-hall audiences, in which a spirit of enlightened Radicalism is at last happily discernible. It is hoped that, both in rhyme and metre, the verses will satisfy the requirements of this most elegant form of composition. The song is intended to be shouted through music in the usual manner by a singer in evening dress, who should carry a small Union Jack carelessly thrust inside his waistcoat. The title is short but taking:— ON THE CHEAP! First Verse. Of a Navy insufficient cowards croak, deah boys! If our place among the nations we're to keep. But with British beef, and beer, and hearts of oak, deah boys!— (With enthusiasm.) We can make a shift to do it—On the Cheap! Chorus. (With a common-sense air.) Let us keep, deah boys! On the Cheap, While Britannia is the boss upon the deep, She can wollop an invader, when he comes in his Armada, If she's let alone to do it—On the Cheap! Second Verse. (Affectionately.) Johnny Bull is just as plucky as he was, deah boys! (With a knowing wink.) And he's wide awake—no error!—not asleep; But he won't stump up for ironclads—becos, deah boys! He don't see his way to get 'em—On the Cheap! Chorus. So keep, deah boys! On the Cheap, (Gallantly.) And we'll chance what may happen on the deep! For we can't be the losers if we save the cost o' cruisers, And contentedly continue—On the Cheap! Third Verse. The British Isles are not the Conti-nong, deah boys! (Scornfully.) Where the Johnnies on defences spend a heap. No! we're Britons, and we're game to jog along, deah boys! (With pathos.) In the old time-honoured fashion—On the Cheap! Chorus. (Imploringly.) Ah! keep, deah boys! On the Cheap; For the price we're a