John Hamilton - Martin Carthy

John Hamilton wagered a wager four hundred guineas and ten
That he would go down London City and never speak aught but sing

Chorus:
So/and/still he sang, tay-i-adelty, tay-i-adelty tan
So he sang, eeti-fi-adelty, tay-i-adelty tan

Policeman come running and shouting, "A madman's coming along
Soon we shall see who he is and we'll soon put an end to his song."

Chorus

They took him before the justice to see who he could be
Still he sang eeti-fi-adelty, on with his singing went he

Brought him some pen and some paper to see if he could write
Still he sang eeti-fi-adelty, on with his singing all night

Chorus

Come running the justice's daughter, a beautiful woman was she
Saw John Hamilton singing and on him she cast her eye

"Daddy go open the chamber and let the young gentleman in
See that you use him genteelly and give him a bottle of wine."

Chorus

John Hamilton put his hand in his pocket, he made [?] a shilling to fly
Give a gold ring to the lady and on with his singing went he

Chorus

John Hamilton won him a wager four hundred guineas and ten
Went home with the justice's daughter and that put an end to his song

She loved him for crackling his fingers, she loved him for singing a song
Loved him for eeti-fi-adelty, tay-i-adelty tan

Chorus