American Old Time Song Lyrics: 16 Down Among The Coals
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 16
DOWN AMONG THE COALS
My Jemima was in service once
At a house in Hoxton Square,
She never got out, and so I used
To go and court her there;
Her mistresses were two old maids,
Such very particular souls,
That Jemima often had to hide me
In amongst the coals.
Chorus.
Down among the coals, down among the coals.
Oh, by Jove! it was a lark, all alone and in the dark;
Down among the coals, down among the coals,
Waiting to make love to my Jemima.
When in that cellar, cobwebs used
To decorate my clothes,
The coal dust got into my eyes,
And would get up my nose;
And when it rained, the water came
A trickling through a crack,
And I always fancied spiders were
A crawling down my back.-Chorus.
One night they sent Jemima out,
Who'd forgotten her dear Joe
Was down among the wall's-ends,
And a prisoner below;
I began to freeze, was obliged to sneeze,
And felt inclined to shout,
At last called thro' the keyhole:
Here, Jemima, let's get out!-Chorus.
At last the door was opened,
'Twas dark, oh, the best of bliss,
I threw my arms around her neck
And gave her such a kiss.
A scream-and then a shovel
Gave me one upon the head-
I kissed her ancient mistress,
Oh! ha! I needn't say I fled.-Chorus.
They say, love laughs at locksmiths,
That was the case with us,
Of course, Jemima had to leave,
It caused an awful fuss;
But I married her soon after that,
I'm as happy as a king,
And often 'round our cozy fire,
This is what we sing:-Chorus.