16a. A Hole to Put Poor Robin In

Annotations

These same two stanzas are also remembered in Mr Haywood's Account. This is the song “Poor Robin” which was printed in The Man of War’s Garland, To which are Added Eggs and Bacon. Poor Robin. (1796). There are 2 copies listed at the Bodleian and National Library of Scotland. No tune is indicated. The words read:

As I was coming from the play,
I met a fair maid by the way,
She had a charming pretty thing,
And a hole to put poor robin in.

I took this fair main in my arms,
And soon enjoy'd her lovely charms,
So close to me then she did cling,
She'd a hole to put Robin in.

I laid this fair maid on the grass.
And there I pleas'd my pretty lass,
By playing with her pretty thing,
In her hole I put Robin in.

She had a charming slender waist,
As ever lord or duke embrac'd,
She'd rosy cheeks and a double chin,
And a hole to out poor Robin in.

No pretender is my name,
Among the girls I have the same,
For whether I do lose or win,
I'm sure to put poor Robin in.

I married this girl and brought her home,
And then I had a wife of my own,
I thought it was a pretty thing
I'd a hole to put poor Robin in.

Now I goes whistling to my plough,
To card and spin my wife known how;
A merry life we do begin,
I've a hole to put poor Robin in.

Altho' my house it is but small,
It serves for parlour kitchen and all;
I'm joyful still in every thing,
I've a hole to put poor Robin in.

A bed and blankets I have got,
A dish a spoon a kettle and pot;
I am as happy as the king,
I've a hole to put poor Robin in.

What care I for Holland smocks,
What care I for powder'd locks
In the dark my wife she's like a queen,
She's a hole to put poor Robin in.