/ · John S. Farmer’s Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes

Jack Flashman

Jack Flashman
1842

I

Jack Flashman was a prig so bold,
Who sighed for nothen but the gold;
For sounding, frisking any clie, 1 robbing; pocket
Jack was the lad, and never shy.
Fol, de, rol.


II

Jack long was on the town, a teazer; 2 clever fellow
A spicy blade for wedge or sneezer; 3 silver plate; snuffbox
Could turn his fives to anything 4 hands
Nap a reader, or filch a ring. 5 pocket-book; steal a ring
Fol, de, rol.


III

Jack was all game, and never slack, 6 bold
In the darky tried the crack; 7 evening; burglary
Frisk’d the lobby and the swag;
“I’m fly to every move,” his brag. 8 aware of
Fol, de, rol.

IV

But Jack, at last, got too knowen—
Was made a flat by his blowen! 9 betrayed by his mistress
She peached, so got him into trouble. 10 gave information
And then, tipp’d poor Jack the double! 11 deserted
Fol, de, rol.

V

Jack left the jug right mer-ri-ly, 12 prison
And vent and black’d his doxy’s eye! 13 sweetheart
Saying—look, marm, when next you split,
I’ll finish you with a rummy hit!
Fol, de, rol.

VI

My blades, before my chaunt I end, 14 men
 Here the rag-sauce of a friend; 15 advice
Ne’er trust to any fancy jade,
For all their chaff is only trade!
Fol, de, rol.

VII

Let all their gammon be resisted;
Vithout you vishes to get twisted! 16 hung
And never nose upon yourself— 17 talk about
You then are sure to keep your pelf.
Fol, de, riddle.

Taken from Musa Pedestris, Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536―1896], collected and annotated by John S. Farmer.

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Nearby

• 1811 Dictionary of UK Slang, originally by Captain Francis Grose
• 1736 Dictionary of Thieving Slang by Nathan Bailey