LIMBO        Tony Rose
Tuning:  Drop both E's to D

  D
I am a young lad and me fortune is bad,
              C          D
What riches I had is all plundered.

I've spent all me money on girls and strong beer
                   C           D
And if ever I gets rich 'tis a wonder
                          C           D
It's field after field to market I've sent
                                  G         D
Until me land was all gone and me money all spent.

Me heart was so hard I could never repent
                    C             D
And 'twas that that brought me to Limbo.



Oh, once I could run whilst others did lie,
And strut like a crow in the gutter,
And the people all said as they saw me pass by
"There goes Mr Topp in a flutter."
With a top and top-gallants I hoisted me sails,
With a five-inch cravat and a wig with three tails,
But now I am ready to gnaw me own nails
And drink the cold waters of Limbo.


I had an old Uncle lived down in the West
And when he heard of my sad disaster,
Poor soul, after that he could ne'er take no rest
And his troubles came faster and faster.
He came to the jail for to view me sad case
And as soon as I saw him I knew his old face.
I stood gazing on him like one in amaze
And wished meself safe out of Limbo.


"Oh, Jack, if I set you once more on your legs
And put you in credit and fashion,
It's will you leave off of these old rakish ways
And
"Yes, Uncle," says I, "If you will set me free
Then I surely will always be rul-ed by thee.
I'll lay by me bones for the good of me soul,
And pay them for layin' me in Limbo.


He pulled out his purse with £3,000
And counted it out in bright guineas,
And when I was free from the old Prison gates
I went to see Peggy and Jeannie.
In me ragged old clothes they knew none of me gold
And they threw me all out in the wet and the cold.
You'd have laughed now to see how those hussies did scold
And jaw me for layin' in Limbo.


I hadn't been there for a very long time,
When my pockets they fell a-pickin'.
I banged them as long as me cane I could hold,
Until they fell coughing and kickin'.
The one cried out "Murder!", the other did scold:
I banged them as long as me cane I could hold.
I banged their old bodies for the good of their souls
And paid them for layin' me in Limbo.


La da t'n da da t'n de de da...