Saturday, April 12, 2008

Chalk Farm to Camberwell Green

In the ongoing series of South London Songs, here's a popular music hall ditty from 1915, written by Lionel Monckton (1861–1924):

Once up to London I went for the day
Everything there seemed so lively and gay;
I met a fellow, a regular swell,
Said I was looking so rosy and well.
He whispered kindly: “Now don’t make a fuss,
We’ll have a ride on the top of a bus.”
Up came the bus and in front could be seen
“Chalk Farm to Camberwell Green”.

Chalk Farm to Camberwell Green, all on a summer’s day;
Up we climbed on the motor bus and we started right away.
When we got to the end of the ride, he asked me to go for a
walk,
But I wasn’t Camberwell green by a very long chalk.

Up on a bus it’s so lovely to ride,
Specially if there’s a chap by your side.
There we were sitting, it really was grand,
Half of the time he was holding my hand.
He said: “There may be pickpockets, or worse,
So I had better look after your purse.”
But I remembered the words I had seen;
“Chalk Farm to Camberwell Green”.

Chalk Farm to Camberwell Green, all on a summer’s day;
Up we climbed on the motor bus and we started right away.
When we got to the end of the ride, he asked me to go for a
walk,
But I wasn’t Camberwell green by a very long chalk.

You can hear this song on an album called London Pride, sung by Catherine Bott.

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