An Original Collection of Songs sung at the Theatres Royal, Public Concerts &c. &c. By W. T. Moncrieff |
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THE LIFE OF AN ACTOR! |
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 | An Original Collection of Songs |  |
THE LIFE OF AN ACTOR!
When, first, a lively boy,
Ever fond of play and toy,
Some of sister's borrow'd plays,
Attracted first my gaze
I read, and I admir'd,
To stage fame I soon was fir'd,
I was dying to become a tragic hero!
My master vowed, at school,
I was very far from fool;
And the usher smirk'd about,
When at breaking-up I'd spout;
Pa swore 'twas monstrous fine,
Ma vowed it was divine:
“He born was for an actor, never fear O!”
[OMITTED]
Ever fond of play and toy,
73
Attracted first my gaze
I read, and I admir'd,
To stage fame I soon was fir'd,
I was dying to become a tragic hero!
My master vowed, at school,
I was very far from fool;
And the usher smirk'd about,
When at breaking-up I'd spout;
Pa swore 'twas monstrous fine,
Ma vowed it was divine:
“He born was for an actor, never fear O!”
Chubby cheek—voice a squeak,
Squinting eye—legs awry,
Head like mop—dirty chop,
Hey down, ho down, derry derry down!
This the first stage of an actor's life is---c ear O!
Squinting eye—legs awry,
Head like mop—dirty chop,
Hey down, ho down, derry derry down!
This the first stage of an actor's life is---c ear O!
As stronger grew the itching,
I descended to the kitchen,
And of success ne'er doubting,
Next tried my hand at spouting;
With table cloth for cloak,
Gad I prov'd it was no joke,
That I cut out was to be a tragic hero!
My he met a dish cover,
I a chieftain look'd all over;
Armed cap-a pee, as fit,
My spear a kitchen spit,
My shield the dripping pan,
'Gad I then was more than man,
More murders I committed, than did Nero!
[OMITTED]
I descended to the kitchen,
And of success ne'er doubting,
Next tried my hand at spouting;
74
Gad I prov'd it was no joke,
That I cut out was to be a tragic hero!
My he met a dish cover,
I a chieftain look'd all over;
Armed cap-a pee, as fit,
My spear a kitchen spit,
My shield the dripping pan,
'Gad I then was more than man,
More murders I committed, than did Nero!
Cookey fires—with desires,
Meets while I—with passion fry;
Carving knife—take your life.
Hey down, ho down, derry, derry down,
This an actor's second stage is, it is clear O!
Now who knows but being loyal,
Soon, some Theatre Royal,
My talents may engage,
And soon upon the stage,
A hero bold in chains,
I may spout my loves and pains,
Playing Barbarossa, Bajazet, and Nero.
How my bosom then will swell,
As I hear the prompter's bell—
While round goes the buz and whiz—
That is he, ma'am! Yes, it is!
What an eye, and what an air!
Quite a Roscius, I declare!
That's the gentleman—that's our new tragic hero!
[OMITTED]
Meets while I—with passion fry;
Carving knife—take your life.
Hey down, ho down, derry, derry down,
This an actor's second stage is, it is clear O!
Now who knows but being loyal,
Soon, some Theatre Royal,
My talents may engage,
And soon upon the stage,
75
I may spout my loves and pains,
Playing Barbarossa, Bajazet, and Nero.
How my bosom then will swell,
As I hear the prompter's bell—
While round goes the buz and whiz—
That is he, ma'am! Yes, it is!
What an eye, and what an air!
Quite a Roscius, I declare!
That's the gentleman—that's our new tragic hero!
Act away—life's a play,
Let it pass—death's a farce,
Youth and age,—quit the stage—
Hey down, ho down, derry, derry down,
This is the last stage of an actor's life, 'tis clear, O!
Let it pass—death's a farce,
Youth and age,—quit the stage—
Hey down, ho down, derry, derry down,
This is the last stage of an actor's life, 'tis clear, O!
| An Original Collection of Songs | |