Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CLUB NIGHT, by FORD MADOX FORD



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CLUB NIGHT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There was an old man had a broken hat
Last Line: "and we'll dance all the village to its knees."
Alternate Author Name(s): Hueffer, Ford Hermann; Hueffer, Ford Madox
Subject(s): Dancing & Dancers; Grief; Love - Loss Of; Marriage; Old Age; Sorrow; Sadness; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


THERE was an old man had a broken hat,
He had a crooked leg, an old tame cat,
An old lame horse that cropped along the hedge,
And an old song that set your teeth on edge,
With words like:

"Club night's come; it's time the dance begins.
Up go the lamps, we've all got nimble shins.
One night a year man and wife may dance at ease
And we'll dance all the village to its knees."

This silly old man had a broken heart;
He went a-peddling onions from his cart.
Once years ago, when Club night fell in June,
His new-wed wife went off with a dragoon,
Whilst he sang:

"Club night's come; it's time the dance begins.
Up go the lamps, we've all got nimble shins.
One night a year man and wife may dance at ease
And we'll dance all the village to its knees."





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