SHE WAS POOR, BUT SHE WAS HONEST 
(aka IT'S THE SAME THE WHOLE WORLD OVER)
(Traditional - English Music Hall)


Billy Bennett - 1930




She was poor, but she was honest
Though she came from 'umble stock
And an honest heart was beating
Underneath her tattered frock


'Eedless of 'er Mother's warning
Up to London she 'ad gone
Yearning for the bright lights gleaming
'Eedless of temp-ta-shy-on


But the rich man saw her beauty
She knew not his base design
And he took her to a hotel
And bought her a small port wine


Then the rich man took 'er ridin'
Wrecker of poor women's souls
But the Devil was the chauffeur
As she rode in his Royce Rolls
 
In the rich man's arms she fluttered
Like a bird with a broken wing
But he loved 'er and he left 'er
Now she hasn't got no ring


It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Ain't it all a bloomin' shame?


Time has flown, outcast and helpless
In the street she stands and says
While the snowflakes fall around 'er
"Won't you buy my bootlaces?"


See him riding in a carriage
Past the gutter where she stands
He has made a stylish marriage
While she wrings her ringless hands


See him there at the theatre
In the front row with the best
While the girl that he has ruined
Entertains a sordid guest
 
See 'er on the bridge at midnight
She says "Farewell, blighted love"
There's a scream, a splash......Good 'eavens!
What is she a-doing of?
 
So they dragged 'er from the river
Water from 'er clothes they wrung
They all thought that she was drownded
But the corpse got up and sung 


It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Ain't it all a bloomin' shame?



(Contributed by Mel - August 2007)