by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928)
Rollicum‑Rorum See original
Language: English
When Lawyers strive to heal a breach And Parsons practise what they preach: Then Boney he'll come pouncing down, And march his men on London town! Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum, Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay! When Justices hold equal scales, And Rogues are only found in jails; Then Boney he'll come pouncing down, And march his men on London town! Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum, Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay! When Rich Men find their wealth a curse, And fill therewith the Poor Man's purse; Then Boney he'll come pouncing down, And march his men on London town! Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum, Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay! When Husbands with their Wives agree, And Maids won't wed from modesty; Then Boney he'll come pouncing down, And march his men on London town! Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum, Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay!
Note: portions of the poem were first published as part of The Trumpet-Major in Good Words (Jan. - Dec. 1880)
Composition:
- Set to music by Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956), "Rollicum-Rorum", op. 15 no. 6, published 1936 [ baritone and piano ], from Earth and Air and Rain, no. 6
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), "The sergeant's song", appears in Wessex Poems and Other Verses, first published 1898
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 132