Classic Poem

A Gipsy lad in his tent did lie:
“How do ye do, my boy?” said I.
He laughs outright, and says, says he,
“Things is a-goin' all right with me,
I'm drunk as a gentleman need to be!”

The girl she gave the fire a poke;
Into the tent came clouds of smoke;
“Bother it! I can hardly see,
The smoke has got into my eyes,” says he,
As drunk as a gentleman need to be.

Out of the tent he bundles quick,
And takes the fiddle and fiddlestick;
Down on the grass outside sits he,
Singing away in Rommany—
As drunk as a gentleman need to be.

The Gorgios, when they heard the sound,
Came running up, and crowded round
To hear him sing in Rommany,
Crying, “Oh, look at Mister Lee,
Drunk as a gentleman need to be!”

The Gipsy's daughter was standing by,
And, hearing him sing, began to cry;
“Oh! stop his singin',” she says, says she,
“A-teachin' of Gorgios Rommany—
As drunk as ever a man can be.”

I went and whispered in his ear,
Took him inside to have some beer;
Says I, “I've got a shillin', see!
Send for a gallon, and you and me
Will drink till we're drunk as gents should be.”

I saw a clergyman t'other week,
A black-coat fellow with lots of cheek;
“You oughtn't to drink no beer,” said he;
Says I, “You're a-tellin' a lie to me,
You're as drunk yourself as a man can be.”

I loves to see a Gipsy lad
A-singin' and playin' away like mad;
But this is what seems a sin to me,
To talk afore Gorgios in Rommany,
If a man is as drunk as a man can be.