Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HOP PICKING IN KENT by ANONYMOUS

First Line: FINE BETSY THE BUNTER FROM LONDON
Last Line: WHEN THEY GO HOP PICKING IN KENT
Subject(s): FARM LIFE;LIFE; AGRICULTURE;FARMERS;
Fine Betsy the bunter from London
From out of St. Giles's did prance,
Young Roger the black chimney sweeper
The Grinder and his bonny lass.
They had all been drinking of gin
Till most of their money was spent,
Then agreed to ramble together
To go a hop picking in Kent.

Next morning they all met together,
The devil a farthing they'd got,
The grinder he pawned his old barrow,
Poor Nelly she pawned her new smock.
They set out as jovial as could be,
To Maidstone it was their intent
To meet with their jolly companions
To go a hop picking in Kent.

Town Malden it was the first place,
The farmer he gave them employ,
They slept all together in a barn,
Like so many hogs in a sty.
Next morning they all met together,
Their tea to get under the hedge,
Their kettle was flung with three sticks
And they all around it did wedge.

When breakfast was over and done
They all to the hop yard did trip,
Some helped to pull up the poles
And others the hops they did pick.
They spent all the day in great mirth
Not thinking they done any harm,
At night when the day's work was done
Like hogs they run home to the barn.

When hop picking was over and done
The farmer he gave them a treat,
They danced like rams in a halter,
When each jolly couple did meet.
Young Roger the black chimney sweeper,
The grinder and his bonny lass
And Betsy they made her so drunk
She was forced to lie on the grass.

The farmer he finds them in milk,
Ground ivy it serves them for tea,
They live all together in a barn,
No landlord or taxes they pay.
Their life is a compound of ease,
They never do seem to relent,
And this is the life of those jiggers
When they go hop picking in Kent.



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