PRETTY LITTLE VILLA DOWN AT BARKING


as recorded by Gus Elen
1911


We ain't a-livin' where we did a-fore we moved away
From the little wooden 'ouse at Peckham Rye,
We've shifted for the better, as the circumstances prove,
'Cause we've got a xxxx? villa, about so 'igh!
It's fenced all round wiv railin's and it's finished off wiv spikes,
And a natty little wooden gate for keepin' out the tykes,
And you can come and see us any afternoon yer likes
At our pretty little villa down at Barkin'.

Come down and 'ear the sparrers sing,
In the middle of the winter you would fancy it was spring!
The missus and the kids are gettin' brown as anything;
Oh come down to see us all at Barkin'.

There's a banister to 'old on if yer want to go upstairs,
And the doors and things are painted white and blue.
There's winders in the parlour and the cupboards are in pairs,
And all the grates 'ave got a chimney flue!
There's a cellar underneath to 'old a hundredweight o' coals,
There's a back yard almost big enough to play a game o' bowls!
And the kids 'ave got the whooping cough, Lor' bless their little souls,
Oh do come and see us all at Barkin'.

Come down and 'ear the sparrers sing,
In the middle of the winter you would fancy it was spring!
The missus and the kids are gettin' brown as anything;
Oh come down to see 'em all at Barkin'.

There's a pretty iron scraper if yer want to scrape yer boots,
I wipe mine on the doormat at the door.
There's nothin' 'alf so pretty as a number on the 'ouse,
Why the name of it's enough to break your jaw!
But remember if you're callin', don't you do the lah-de-dah!
'Cause the missus's brother, he's a heavyweight, a star;
If you get a gentle lift from 'im you won't know where you are!
So you'd better mind your P's and Q's at Barkin'.

So come down and 'ear the sparrers sing,
In the middle of the winter you would fancy it was spring!
The missus and the kids are gettin' brown as anything;
Oh come down and see us all at Barkin'.

Come down and 'ear the sparrers sing,
In the middle of the winter you would fancy it was spring!
The missus and the kids are gettin' brown as anything;
Oh come down and see us all at Barkin'.




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - November 2017)