Jack Robinson

From Thomas Hudson's 6th Collection of Comic Songs (1824) 
TUNE-  College Hornpipe

The perils, and dangers of the voyage pass'd,
And the ship to Portsmouth arrived at last; 
The sails all furl'd and the anchor cast, 
the happiest of the crew was Jack Robinson: 
For his Poll he had trinkets and gold galore
Besides of prize-money quite a store;
And along wi' the crew he went ashore,
As cockswain to the boat Jack Robinson

Tol de rol, etc

He met with a man, and said, I say,
Mayhap you may know one Polly Gray ?
She lives somewhere hereabouts — the man said. Nay,
I do not indeed, to Jack Robinson.
Says Jack to him, I've left my ship'
And all my messmates giv'd the slip 
Mayhap you'll partake of a good can of flip,
For you're a civil fellow, says Jack Robinson

In a public house, then, they both sot down
And talk'd' of admirals of high renown.
And drunk'd as much grog as come to half-a-crown,
This here strange man and Jack Robinson;
Then Jack call'd out the reck'ning to pay.
The landlady came in, in fine array.
My eyes and limbs ! why here's Polly Gray ;
Who'd of thought of meeting here ? says Jack Robinson. 

The landlady stagger'd back against the wall, 
And said, at first, she didn't know him at all; 
Shiver me ! says Jack, why here's a pretty squall; 
Dam'me, don't you know me? I'm Jack Robinson
Don't you know this handkerchief you giv'd to me?
'Twas three years ago, before I went to sea;
Every day I look'd at it, and thought of thee ;
Upon my soul I have, says Jack Robinson.;

Says the lady, says she, I've changed my state:
Why you don't mean, says Jack, that you've got a mate
You know you promis'd me -  says she, I couldn't wait
For no tidings could I gain of you, Jack Robinson;
And somebody, one day, came to me, and said 
That somebody else had somewhere read. 
In some newspaper, as how you was dead.
I've not been dead at all, says Jack Robinson. 

Then he turned his quid, finished his glass, 
Hitch'd up his trowsers — alas! alas! 
That ever I should live to be made such an ass, 
To be bilk'd by a woman, says Jack Robinson; 
But to fret and stew about it much is all in vain,
I'll get a ship and go to Holland, France and Spain; 
No matter where to Portsmouth I'll ne'er come back again:
And he was off before they could say, Jack Robinson.