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From Salthouse Dock to Liverpool one night as I did stray,
I'm going to a place called Hole In Ye Wall up Hackins Hey;
But when we got to Church Street that night we turned about,
But for courtesy I asked her, "Does your mother know you're out?"
I then took out my leather purse and we drank very free,
I never felt so happy for to enjoy such company;
Three roaring fellows they came in, kicked up the devils row,
Whilst the other two kept shouting,
"Does your mother know you're out?"
They jammed me in a corner and they could not serve me worse,
While this young maid she stole away from me my leather purse,
Containing sixty sovereigns so slyly she tripped out,
And the landlord forced me to the door and bid me to go out.
l was walking out and down the street I said I was a fool,
I wished myself a thousand miles away from Liverpool;
When another girl, "Kind sir, I have no doubt,
You're a stranger in this country,
Does your mother know you're out?"
I stepped up to this pretty girl, I give her such a clout,
Where is the purse you stole from me down yonder public house?
She bawled so loud the watchman came and said what's this about?
Oh, kind sir, I only asked her if your mother knows you're out.
They took me into custody and marched me off for jail,
For six long months in prison in sorrow to bewail;
For six long months in prison and that without a doubt,
And I'll bid adieu to Liverpool as soon as I get out.
Collected in 1951 from Les Martin of Trepassey, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
