Name: Jack in the Box
Duration: P00H03M10S
Description: A song based on a story told to Ida Gandy and recounted in her book 'An Idler on the Shropshire Borders'. The tune is the widespread 'Down Derry Down' tune.

Jack in the Box

from So Sound You Sleep (More Tears of Morning) by David A. Harley

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about

A song based on a story told to Ida Gandy and recounted in her book 'An Idler on the Shropshire Borders'. The tune is the widespread 'Down Derry Down' tune.

lyrics

Down in the workhouse when I was a lad
No tongue can relate all the pleasures we had
Dry bread, and Bastille soup by the bowl
And a flogging or two for the good of our souls
Derry down, down, down derry down*

A tale I recall of those happy times
And an orphan lad always to mischief inclined
He was ever in line for a kick, at the best
And the poor workhouse master could scarcely find rest

Till came the day one of the other lads died
“Aha!” says the master, “I’ll settle your pride!”
He shut up the lad in the dead-house to stay
Alone with the coffin until the next day

But what should Jack do but open the box
He takes out the corpse, and with it swaps clothes
Props it up on the rail at the top of the stairs
Then he hops in the box and the winding-sheet wears

And when it grew dark, the master came up
With a plate for Jack, some victuals to sup
Holds it out to the corpse on the rail
Who says not a word, but stands stiff, cold and pale

“Well, take it!” the master says in surprise
“I should think you’d be starving by now, damn your eyes!”
Then up leaps Jack, who was lying so still
And says “If he wunna eat it, I will!”

When the master heard this he got such a fright
He let go of the plate, and turned whiter than white
Gave a terrible shriek, such a fright did he get
Fell back down the stairs and near broke his neck

Wasn’t that a sad fall for a man such as he
So kind to his charges, with his boot so free?
So pity the poor who must live on the roll
And think on the guardians and pray for their souls

credits

from So Sound You Sleep (More Tears of Morning), released February 8, 2023
Vocal and lyric by David A. Harley. Tune traditional.

license

about

David A. Harley England, UK

David Harley is a former professional musician, administrator, IT security editor, author and researcher, and former much else that is even less impressive. He now lives in Cornwall. More info at whealalice.com