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GOOD Fellows all come lend an ear,
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and listen to my song,
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To you in brief I will declare
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how I have done myself much wrong
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By spending of my money too free,
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it brought me low and poor,
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But now a good Husband I will be,
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and keep my money in store.
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It is well known the fudling-school
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I have haunted many year;
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I wasted my money like a fool
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both in Wine and strong Beer:
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With my Companions day and night
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I'de both drink, sing, and roar,
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But now bad company I'le slight,
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and keep my money in store.
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In the morning sometimes to an Alehouse I'de hye,
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and tarry there all day,
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Perhaps a crown or an angel I
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at one reckoning would pay:
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My pocket of money I'de empty make,
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e're that I would give ore,
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But now such actions I'le forsake,
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and keep my money in store.
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My hostess she would smile in my face
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when I did merrily call,
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For why, she knew I would not be base,
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but freely pay for all:
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Before the Flaggon was quite out
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she'd be ready to fill more,
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But now I mean to look about,
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and keep my money in store.
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The Second Part, to the same Tune.
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Sometimes she in a merry vein
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would sit upon my knee,
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And give me kisses one or twain,
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and all to sweeten me,
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She'd vow I was welcome indeed,
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and should be evermore,
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But now I mean for to take heed,
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and keep my money in store.
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Thus I frequented the Ale bench
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so long as my money would hold;
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Whilst my Wife & Children at home did pinch
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with hunger and with cold;
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So I had my guts full of Ale and Beer,
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I lookt after nothing more,
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But now I mean to have a care,
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and keep my money in store,
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My wife would often me perswade
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and mildly to me say,
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Good loving husband follow your trade,
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and go not so astray:
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But with foule words I[']de her abuse,
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and call her bitch and whore,
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But now her counsel I will chuse,
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and keep my money in store.
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At last through my lewd wicked vice
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I had consumed all,
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By drunkenness, with Cards and Dice
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my stock it was brought small:
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By keeping of bad company
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I was grown mean and poor,
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But now I'le leave bad husbandry,
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and keep my money in store.
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To my hostess one time I did repair,
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and desired one courtesie,
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To trust me for half a dozen of beer,
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but she did me deny:
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She told me she had made a vow
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to draw no drink on score,
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But I am fully resolved now
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to keep my money in store.
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Quod she, the Mault-man his money must have
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also I must pay excise,
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If I should trust every drunken knave
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where will my money rise?
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But if you have chink you may have drink,
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if you've none turn out of door,
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But now from the Alehouse I will shrink,
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and keep my money in store.
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Thus all good fellows you may see
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what 'tis to be in want,
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A man shall not regarded be
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if money is with him scant:
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But if money you have, they'l tend you brave,
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if you've none they will give o're,
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Then be careful your money for to save,
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and lay it up in store.
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By experience 'tis plainly seen
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in England far and nigh,
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Those that rich wealthy men has been,
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at last come to poverty
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By spending too much in wine and beer
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there is many doth grow poor,
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Then good fellows have a special care,
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to keep your money in store.
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If all bad husbands were of my mind
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in country and in town,
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The Ale-wives a new trade should find,
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to pull their fat-sides down:
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They shou'd work hard, both spin and card,
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we would keep them so poor,
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And we wou'd be careful our money to save,
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and lay it up in store.
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Now all you married men that are,
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and Batchelours so gay,
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Of the main chance pray have a care,
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lest you fall in decay:
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Be sure you time do highly prize
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not stay for rich nor poor,
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Good fellows all I you advise
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to keep your money in store,
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