American Old Time Song Lyrics: 09 A Wandering Minstrel I

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 9

A WANDERING MINSTREL I
From "The Mikado."

A wandering minstrel I-
A thing of shreds and patches,
Of ballads, songs and snatches,
And dreamy lullaby!
My catalogue is long.
Through every passion ringing,
And to your humors changing
I tune my supple song!

Are you in sentimental mood?
I'll sigh with you,
Oh, willow, willow!
On maiden's coldness do you brood?
I'll do so, too-
Oh, willow, willow!
I'll charm your willing ears
With songs of lover's fears,
While sympathetic tears
My cheeks bedew-
Oh, willow, willow!

But if patriotic sentiment is wanted,
I've patriotic ballads cut and dried;
For where'er our country's banner may be planted,
All other local banners are defied!
Our warriors, in serrid ranks assembled,
Never quail-or they conceal it if they do -
And I shouldn't be surprised if nations trembled
Before the mighty troops of Titipu!

And if you call for a song of the sea.
We'll heave the capstan round,
With a yeo heave ho, for the wind is free,
Her anchor's a-trip and her helm's a-lee,
Hurrah for the homeward bound!
Ye-ho-heave ho-
Hurrah for the homeward bound!

To lay aloft in a howling breeze
May tickle a landsman's taste,
But the happiest hours a sailor sees
Is when he's down
At an inland town, I.
With his Nancy on his knee, yeo ho!
And his arm around her waist!

Then man the capstan-off we go,
As the fiddler swings us round,
With a yeo heave ho,
And a rumbelow,
Hurrah for the homeward bound!
A wandering, minstrel I, &c.