Page:Pop Goes the Weasel Johnson Ballads 585.gif



SOME time ago the people said, that English sports were dying,

And dancing parties were so scarce, that pretty girls were crying;

But when the polka's they came, [sic] out and 2d. hops were rising,

And Madame Taglioni's tricks, they were indeed surprising;

But now Black Sal and dusty Bob my lord and Lady Teasel,

Go where you will you'll hear it still, pop goes the weasel.

This dance is very popular, it is without deception,

Pop goes the weasel has been to court & met a good reception,

Our Queen she patronized the dance, no music could be riper,

Says Albert, let them dance away, John Bull must pay the piper.

This dance will cure you of the blues the headache and the measles,

So foot it out with toe and heel, pop goes the weasel.

Pop goes the weasel all admire, 'tis such a lively tric, sir,

Each play-house too, has got it out, the Surry and the Vic, sir;

The Pavilion, and the Standard too, the brittannia and the Eagle,

It is rare fun to see them kiss and dance, pop gees the weasel.

Now all you pretty gals beware when you are gaily prancing,

And mind and watch your sweethearts well when you go out a dancing,

For if you give the rogues their way as in the dance you are bustling,

They'll soon find out the artful dodge and then they'll spoil your muslin

A country lad the other day came all the way from barkshire,

He had heard folks say in London Town a chap could have a lark, sir:

He read the play bills up and down, and then went to the Eagle,

Says he, I'm blow'd if I don't sport a bob to see the Weasel

He sat and gaped with open jaws, at every thing around him

When a pretty girl came up and said she was glad she found him

Hallo! says he, do you [sic]now me? my name is Roger Teazle,

All right my love, says she, come home and see pop goes the Weasel

She took poor Roger to a house, with many smiling faces,

And said my love let's go to bed, let me undo your braces

She eased him of his watch and blunt, and left poor Roger Teasle,

And smiling to herself, she says, I'm off pop goes the weasel.

An old maid to'ther [sic] night exclaimed, I have not danced this half a century

But pop the [sic] the Weasel makes me feel, as if I was but twenty;

but by the by my Weasel's stale the men they won't come near me

I long to pop the Weasel now I think it would so cheer me.

The pretty girls of London Town, are all a running mad sir

The Weasel dance they swear they will learn in spite of mam or dad sir

To lay alone is very hard and might bring on the measles

but when the young ones come to town I'm sure they'll blame the Weasel

So now my dear mamma's look out after your daughters

And get them married off at once or keep them in close quarters

Or else for all the care you took to get them past the measles

You'll have them falling deep in love & then pop goes the Weasel.