Cries of London

Song Cycle by Luciano Berio (1925 - 2003)

1.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
These are the cries of London town
some go up street, some go down.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, well-known phrases of vendors on the streets of old London.

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Researcher for this page: John Versmoren

2.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Where are ye fair maids
that have need of our trades?
I sell you a rare confection.                
Will you have your face spread          
either with white or red?                     
My drugs are no dregs                        
for I love the white of eggs                 
made in rare confection.                    
Will ye buy any fair complexion?

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, well-known phrases of vendors on the streets of old London.

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: John Versmoren

4.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Garlic, good garlic
the best of all the cries.
It is the physic
'gainst all the maladies.
It is my chiefest wealth,
good garlic for the cry.
And if you lose your health
my garlic then come buy,
my garlic come to buy.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, well-known phrases of vendors on the streets of old London.

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: John Versmoren

6.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Money, penny come to me
I sell old clothes.
For one penny, for two pennies
old clothes to sell.
If I had as much money
as I could tell
I never would cry
old clothes to sell.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, well-known phrases of vendors on the streets of old London.

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: John Versmoren

7.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
 Come (buy
           some
           old
           cry                                  
           to
           me)
 Come
 some go up street some go down
 I sell old clothes
 and if you lose your health
 my garlic then come buy
 Cry (some
       go
       up
       go
       own)
 Money (to me)
 Penny (come
            buy
            me
            old
            cries)
 Come buy
 some go up street some go down
 old clothes to sell                                
 garlic good garlic
 my garlic then come buy
 if I had as much money as I could tell
 I never would cry old clothes to sell   
 some go up street some go down       
 Down                                                 
 these are the cries of London town    
 Some (some                                       
           go . . .)

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, well-known phrases of vendors on the streets of old London.

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: John Versmoren
Total word count: 250