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HARK THE ROBBERS |
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Five hundred pounds we have not got,
Have not got, have not got, Five hundred pounds we have not got,
So early in the morning.
So off to prison she must go,
She must go, she must go, So off to prison she must go,
So early in the morning.
If she go then I'll go too,
I'll go too, I'll go too, If she go then I'll go too,
So early in the morning.
So round the meadows we must go,
We must go, we must go, So round the meadows we must go,
So early in the morning,
—Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
(J)) In the Deptford version two girls join hands, holding them up as an arch for the other players to tramp through. The first two verses are sung first by one and then by the other of the two girls. At the finish of these the girl then going through the arch is stopped, and the third, fourth, and fifth verses are sung by the two girls alternately. Then finally both girls sing the last verse, and the child is sent as prisoner behind one or other of the two girls. The verses are then begun again, and repeated afresh for each of the troop marching through the arch until all of them are placed behind one or other of the two girls. The two sides thus formed then proceed to tug against each other, and the strongest side wins the game.
The Belfast version is practically the same, except that the verses are not sung as a dialogue, but by all the players together, and the prisoner, when caught, has the choice of sides, by being asked, " Which will you have, a golden apple or golden pear ? " and according to the answer given is sent behind one of the leaders. The Norfolk and Shropshire games are different. Miss Matthews thus describes the Norfolk |
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