American Old Time Song Lyrics: 23 Tit For Tat

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 23

TIT FOR TAT.
Words by Nemo. Music by Henry Pontet.

If you cross the bill, by my father's mill,
And walk along the fields about a mile,
By the willow copse, where the pathway stops,
You'll find a very high and awkward stile;
It has four high steps, so widely set,
To cross it by myself I am afraid;
I never dare that way repair.
Unless at hand I've strong and friendly aid.
'Twas there, one day in the month of May,
I met a loving lad, and in my sweetest tones,
I asked him would he mind, would he be so very kind,
As to help me o'er those four most awkward stones?
he helped me- " one, " - he helped me- " two, " -
And then to my surprise, he paused and said:
' Rose, I love you! " I only laughed;
"Rose, do you love me? " I said, "not I."
"Then stay where you are, sweetheart, " said he,
And turned away without another word!
I could not get up or down in my fright,
What was I to do in such a sad and sorry plight?

"Come back! come back! " I wildly cried,
"Come back! come back! I want to go to town.
If you help me o'er the stile, you'll gain my sweetest smile,
And p'raps I'll tell you more when I am down."
He helped me- " three, " -he helped me "four,"
Then, with a laugh, I bounded lightly o'er.
"Rose, what say you? "I only laughed: "Rose, you promised!"
I said, "not I. " I told him to stay where he was just then,
And tripped away without another word;
He did not get up, he did not go down,
But sat upon the stile looking at me with a frown,
And if you cross the hill, and walk about a mile,
I think you'll find him sitting on that selfsame stile!