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

The By-Blow Of The Jug

The By-Blow Of The Jug
1842

I

In Newgate jail the jolly kid was born— 1 child
Infamy he suck’d without any scorn!
His mammy his father did not know,
But that’s no odds—Jack was a by-blow!
Foddy, loddy, high O.

II

Scarcely had Jack got on his young pins, 2 feet
When his mammy put him up to some very bad sins,
And she taught him soon to swear and lie,
And to have a finger in every pie.
Foddy, loddy, high O.

III

His mammy was downy to every rig,— 3 accomplished;
Before he could read she made him a prig; 4 thief
Very soon she larn’d Jack to make a speak
And he toddled out on the morning sneak 5 round for theft
Foddy, loddy, high O.


IV

Jack had a sharp-looking eye to ogle, 6 leer
And soon he began to nap the fogle! 7 steal; handkerchief
And ever anxious to get his whack—
When scarcely ripe, he went on the crack. 8 housebreaking
             Foddy, loddy, high O.

V

“Now, my chick,” says she, “you must take the road
’Tis richer than the finest abode,
For watches, purses, and lots of the gold—
A scampsman, you know, must always be bold.” 9 highwayman
           Foddy, loddy, high O.

VI

His mother then did give Jack some advice,
To her son a thief, who was not o’er nice;
Says she—“Fight your way, Jack, and stand the brunt,
You’re of no use, my child, without the blunt, 10 money
            Foddy, loddy, high O.”

VII

“Then keep it up, Jack, with rare lots of fun.
A short life, perhaps, but a merry one;
Your highway dodges may then live in fame,
Cheat miss-Fortune, and be sure to die game.”
             Foddy, loddy, high O.

VIII

“In spite of bad luck, don’t be a grumbler;
If you are finished off from a tumbler! 11 cart; Notes
But to the end of your life, cut a shine,
You’re not the first man got into a line.”
             Foddy, loddy, high O.

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