Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WAY TO LIVE by ANONYMOUS

First Line: A MAN AND A WOMAN GOT MARRIED ONE DAY
Last Line: AND IF WE CAN'T GET ON WE MAY THINK IT STRANGE
Subject(s): HUMAN BEHAVIOR;MARRIAGE; CONDUCT OF LIFE;HUMAN NATURE;WEDDINGS;HUSBANDS;WIVES;
@3Chorus.

A man and a woman got married one day,
And thus unto each other did say,
As we the world must now begin,
We will deal in every following thing.@1

@3She@1. We will deal in apples, plums and pears,
@3He@1. We will mend old bellows and bottom old chairs,
@3She@1. We will buy old metal, rope and bags,
@3He@1. Yes, and I'll go out a gathering rags.

@3She@1. We will sell red herrings and ginger pop,
@3He@1. Hot baked sheep's head and taters hot,
@3She@1. We'll keep a school of high degree,
@3He@1. And learn the children A. B. C,
@3She@1. We'll sell fat bacon, butter and lard,
@3He@1. And great long songs for a penny a yard,
@3She@1. I'll sell potash, starch and blues,
@3He@1. And I'll go sweeping the chimney flues.
@3She@1. I'll make bustles and lady's frills,
@3He@1. And I'll sell mussels and pickled eels,
@3She@1. We'll deal in razors, strops and hones,
@3He@1. And I'll go out a picking up bones,
@3She@1. We'll deal in paper, take in the news,
@3He@1. And I'll go a cobbling ladies' shoes,
@3Both@1. And we'll learn the ladies all complete,
To dance the Polka at threepence a week.
@3She@1. We'll deal in lollipops, sugar and figs,
@3He@1. We'll buy a donkey, ducks, hens and pigs,
@3She@1. We'll have a mangle, and buy old clothes,
@3He@1. And I'll make salve for the ladies' toes.
@3She@1. We'll deal in pickled cabbage and eggs,
@3He@1. And make tin dishes and wooden legs.
@3She@1. We'll deal in sausages, tripe and lard,
@3He@1. And if we can't live, 'twill be devilish hard.

@3She@1. We'll deal in Oils, sperm, train and neat,
@3He@1. And I'll make stockings for children's feet,
@3She@1. We will sell hot muffins and home baked bread,
@3He@1. Pins and needles, cotton and thread.
@3She@1. We'll grind old razors, scissors and knives,
@3He@1. And keep lodgings for single men and their wives,
@3She@1. We'll deal in lobsters, shrimps and sprats,
@3He@1. And I'll sell meat for the ladies' cats.

@3She@1. We'll deal in fish, fresh, boiled, and fried,
@3He@1. And let out donkeys a penny a ride,
@3She@1. I will the ladies' fortune tell,
@3He@1. And I'll cry, Old umbrellas to sell,
@3She@1. We will take in the blooming ladies bright,
@3He@1. And sleep in the garret at threepence a night,
@3She@1. I'll sing, Come buy my Crockery ware,
@3He@1. And I'll go dressing the ladies' hair.

@3She@1. We'll sell ripe Cherries, pea soup and milk,
@3He@1. Oranges, lemons and pickled wilks,
@3She@1. Wooden rolling-pins at the Royal Exchange,
@3He@1. And if we can't get on we may think it strange.



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