Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, STANZAS FOR A NEW SONG, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

STANZAS FOR A NEW SONG, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Whistle us something old, you know
Last Line: Or the old hornpipes that you used to whist.
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Singing & Singers; Whistles And Whistling


WHISTLE us something old, you know!
Pucker your lips with the old-time twist,
And whistle the jigs of the long ago,
Or the old hornpipes that you used to whist.
Some old, old tune that we oft averred
Was a little the oldest thing we'd heard
Since "the bob-tailed nag" was a frisky colt,
In the babbling days of old "Ben Bolt."
Whistle us something old and gray --
Some toothless tune of the bygone years --
Some bald old song that limps to-day
With a walking-stick this vale of tears.
Whistle a stave of the good old days,
E'er the fur stood up in a thousand ways
On the listener's pelt as he ripped and tore,
And diddle - dee - blank - blanked Pinafore.

CHORUS

Whistle us something old, you know!
Pucker your lips with the old-time twist,
And whistle the jigs of the long ago,
Or the old hornpipes that you used to whist.





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