POSTMAN'S 'OLIDAY, THE
(Edgar Bateman / Maurice Scott /Eustace Baynes - 1901)


As recorded by GUS ELEN:




 
I works just like a nigger and I isn't over strong
And I'm mostly on my trotters all the time
So I'm glad when Easter Monday or a Whitsun comes along
'Cause a day of perfick rest is really prime
So I lately took it easy 'cause I 'ad a day to spare
Wiv the wife and kiddies in their Sunday clothes
'Twas a treat to make me mind up for a bit o' country air
And the pleasures of a quiet day's repose

There was me and the Missus and the 'alf-a-dozen kids
Startin' in the morning for the zoo
'Twas a precious way, you know, but we made our minds to go
And we took the lot to Epping Forest too
To Highgate, Barnet, 'Ampstead, Peckam Rye,
At the Crystal Palace made a stay
We got weary on our pins and we lost the blooming twins
But I'm glad we 'ad a nice quiet day

It was grand to see the London smoke from orf the Monument
When I'd dragged our pram-ber-lootor to the top
As soon as I got up there, to the bottom I was sent
'Cause the Missus let a beef-steak pudden drop
And when we reached the Sur-pin-tine, the nipper tumbles in
We 'eld 'im upside down a bit to drain
And soon as we 'ad scraped the mud from orf his nose and chin
Well, blimey, if he don't fall in again

There was me and the Missus and the 'alf-a-dozen kids
Wiv nuffink in the bottle but the bung
But I gave the kids a treat when we got to Newgate Street
'Cause I showed 'em where their uncle 'e were 'ung
West 'am, Wanstead, Woolwich, Walthamstow
We reached a spot they called St Mary's Cray
And then I sez to Ma, "Now you mustn’t go too far
'Cause I finks we've had a nice quiet day"


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EXTRA VERSE & CHORUS:


The night before, none of us thought o' gettin' into bed
'Cause we'd got all day tomorra for the rest
And 'alf the night was taken up in cuttin' meat and bread
And in gettin' all the youngsters ready dressed
I felt a bit lopsided 'cause I carried all the grub
It's surprisin' what a lot the kids can peck
And I got a gallon bottle full of porter from the pub
'Cause it balanced all the grub about me neck

There was me and the Missus and the 'alf-a dozen-kids
Climbin' up the Monument so 'igh
Then we played at Jack and Jill when we sampled Greenwich 'ill
And we 'ad a run to Chiswick bye and bye
Acton, 'Endon, Kilburn, Kensel Green
Loaded with the lilac and the may
There was blisters on me heel from an 'alf an inch o' steel
But I'm glad we 'ad a nice quiet day






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - October 2014)