She Was Poor but She Was Honest (It's the Same the Whole World Over)
anonyme
Originale | Versione risalente al periodo della Grande Guerra, dove il protagonista... |
SHE WAS POOR BUT SHE WAS HONEST (IT'S THE SAME THE WHOLE WORLD OVER) She was poor but she was honest, Though she came from 'umble stock, And her honest heart was beating Underneath her tattered frock. 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. It's the same the whole world over, It's the poor what gets the blame, It's the rich what gets the pleasure, Isn't it a blooming shame? In the rich man's arms she fluttered Like a bird with a broken wing, But he loved her and he left her, Now she hasn't got no ring. Time has flown - outcast and homeless In the street she stands and says, While the snowflakes fall around her, 'Won't you buy my bootlaces.' It's the same the whole world over, It's the poor what gets the blame, It's the rich what gets the pleasure, Isn't it a blooming shame? Standing on the bridge at midnight She says, 'Farewell, blighted love!' There's a scream, a splash, good 'eavens! What is she a doing of? Soon they dragged her from the river, Water from her clothes they wrang. They all thought that she was drownded, But the corpse got up and sang: "It's the same the whole world over, It's the poor what gets the blame, It's the rich what gets the pleasure, Isn't it a blooming shame?" She was poor but she was honest, Victim of a rich man's game. First he loved her, then he left her, And she lost her maiden name. Then she ran away to London For to hide her grief and shame. There she met an Army captain, And she lost her name again. "It's the same the whole world over. It's the poor that gets the blame. It's the rich that gets the pleasure. Ain't it all a bleeding shame?" 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. "It's the same the whole world over. It's the poor that gets the blame. It's the rich that gets the pleasure. Ain't it all a bleeding shame?" See her on the bridge at midnight, Crying "Farewell, blighted love". Then a scream, a splash, and . . Goodness! What is she a-doing of? When they dragged her from the river Water from her clothes they wrung. Though they thought that she was drownded, Still her 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, Isn't it a blooming shame?" | SHE WAS POOR BUT SHE WAS HONEST She was poor but she was honest Victim of the Colonel’s whim First he wooed her then seduced her And she had a child by him. It’s the same the whole world over Isn’t it a bleedin’ shame?!? It’s the rich what gets the pleasure And the poor what gets the blame. Then she went away to London For to hide her grief and shame But she met an army captain And she lost her name again It’s the same the whole world over Isn’t it a bleedin’ shame?!? It’s the rich what gets the pleasure And the poor what gets the blame. In the little country cottage Where her saddened parents live Though they drink the fizz she sends ‘em Yet they never can forgive. It’s the same the whole world over Isn’t it a bleedin’ shame?!? It’s the rich what gets the pleasure And the poor what gets the blame. Now she’s standing in the gutter Selling matches a penny a box While he’s riding in his carriage With an awful dose of pox It’s the same the whole world over Isn’t it a bleedin’ shame?!? It’s the rich what gets the pleasure And the poor what gets the blame. See him in a grand theater Eating chocolate in the pit While the poor girl what he ruined Wanders round through mud and shit It’s the same the whole world over Isn’t it a bleedin’ shame?!? It’s the rich what gets the pleasure And the poor what gets the blame. See him in the House of Commons Making laws to put down crime While the victim of his passion Slinks around to hide her shime It’s the same the whole world over Isn’t it a bleedin’ shame?!? It’s the rich what gets the pleasure And the poor what gets the blame. Now she’s livin’ in the cottage But she very rarely smiles And her only occupation Is cracking ice for grandad’s piles. |