Off to Epsom Races / The Broken-Down Gentleman

When I was young and in my prime,
Just twenty-four years old,
I spent my time in vanity,
𝄆 Along with the ladies so bold. 𝄇

When I was young, in my youthful days,
About four and twenty years old,
I spent my time in vanity,
Along with the ladies so bold.

With silver buckles all round my wrists
And a cane all in my hand,
It's over the nation I did go,
𝄆 Like a farmer's son so grand. 𝄇

I wore the ravels all around my wrist,
A cane was in my hand;
No farmer’s son would I accept,
Not one in all the land.

I hired a coach and six bay horses
And servants to wait on me,
For I did intend my money to spend
𝄆 And that you can plainly see. 𝄇

I kept a pack of good hounds, my boys,
And a servant to wait upon me,
And I did intend my money to spend,
And that you can plain-ily see.

I kept a coach and six bay horses,
And hangers all around about,
A golden tassel on each horse’s head,
Just ready for me to ride out.

I steered my coach to Epsom races,
And sights they were so gay,
And there I did spend ten thousand pounds
𝄆 All in the delights of one day. 𝄇

I steered my coach to Ipswich town,
Horse racing for to see,
And there I spend a thousand pound
In the light of the very fine day.

I steered my coach back home again
And the crops they did run small,
For I was a broken-down gentleman
𝄆 And that was the worst of it all. 𝄇

I steered my coach back home again,
My traps they did run small;
Now I am a broken-down gentleman,
And that’s the worst of it all.

Then my landlord came all for his rent
And bailiffs he brought three,
And he took away all I had got
𝄆 And swore they would have me. 𝄇

The landlord he came to my house,
And bailiffs he brought three,
He stole away my coach and six,
And swore he would have me.

Now my wife is at home and she does lament
And children round her cry,
For I'm in some prison now does stay
𝄆 Until the day that I die. 𝄇

My wife she did most pitiful look,
My children round me cried,
To think that I in prison should lie,
Until the day I died.