COSTER'S PONY, THE
(Edgar Bateman / Henry E Pether 1907)

as recorded by Gus Elen
1911


P'r'aps you wonder why you see me with a smile upon me face,
Why I'm lookin' all so jolly and so gay.
I was very nearly stony,
But it's through me little pony 
That a decent bit o' luck has come to stay.
I was driving to the races in me nobby pony cart 
When a motor-car went wrong outside T'he Crown',
And the owner, he was swearing, 
In a shocking rage declaring,
"That's the second time the thing has broken down!"
Says he,"I got ten minutes left to get upon the course,
And I can win ten thousand if I backs a certain 'orse!"

"Well what price me jolly little gee-gee?",
To the great big sport I cried.
"Don't stand there
Tearin' your 'air,
Fortune depends upon the ride!
Jump inside,
Come and 'ave a ride,
All along of me!
Don't you fret,
You'll win yet 
With me jolly little gee-gee-gee!"

Then he jumped inside me little cart and down the road we flew;
The pony, 'pon me word, he seemed to know
That he'd got to make the running,
And the way he went was stunning,
Well he always was a decent one to go!
The swell, he shouted in me ear,
"He's worth his weight in gold,
I'll win that little pile I'm certain sure!
And I'll put you on a double,
Which will pay you for your trouble,
And I'll never trust a motor any more!"
We landed on the course in time, the road was fairly clear,
And when I rubbed the pony down I whispered in his ear,

"Well what price me jolly little gee-gee?",
To the great big sport I cried.
"Don't stand there
Tearin' your 'air,
Fortune depends upon the ride!
Jump inside,
Come and 'ave a ride,
All along of me!
Don't you fret,
You'll win yet
With me jolly little gee-gee-gee!"

The racing was all over when I saw the swell again,
And he showed me what he'd won that lucky day.
Ev'ry pocket full of money,
Absolutely 'bees and 'oney',
Why, he very nearly took me breath away!
He hands me five hundred as the plucky pony's share,
And a set of silver-plated harness fine.
And wanted me to tell 'im
What my figure was to sell 'im,
But he couldn't buy that little lot of mine!
We jog along together,
I'm as happy as a king,
And when I sees a motor bust it always makes me sing,

"Well what price me jolly little gee-gee?",
To the great big sport I cried.
"Don't stand there
Tearin' your 'air,
Fortune depends upon the ride!
Jump inside,
Come and 'ave a ride,
All along of me!
Don't you fret,
You'll win yet 
With me jolly little gee-gee-gee!

"Well what price me jolly little gee-gee?",
To the great big sport I cried.
"Don't stand there
Tearin' your 'air,
Fortune depends upon the ride!
Jump inside,
Come and 'ave a ride,
All along of me!
Don't you fret,
You'll win yet 
With me jolly little gee-gee-gee!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - February 2017)