Mystery of a Hansom cab, The

AKA Stop the cab
First Published 1888
Writer/composer EW Rogers / AE Durandeau Roud RN24210

Music Hall Performers Walter Munroe
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Costello, Cecilia; England : Warwickshire; 1967

One night, 'twas in a thoroughfare, well known in London Town
A hansom cab came driving by, which had the windows down
It seemed to be a mystery, and went at such a pace
That people stopped and looked awhile, then, shouting out, gave chase.

Stop the cab; stop the cab, whoa, whoa, whoa,
Somebody hold the horse's head, and don't leave go
Nevertheless they had to confess, although they made a grab
They couldn't discover the mystery of a hansom cab.

Said one 'I wonder what's inside, I think it is a man'
Another fetched his opera glass, the mystery to scan
A masher standing on the curb, then gave a sudden start
And said 'Bai Jove! I'll take my oath, that cab contains a tart.'

This firm opinion soon was shared, by more than two or three
Said one, 'A man's there squeezing her, she's sitting on his knee'
Just then a fearful scream rang out, and then they heard a fall
Said one, 'He's murdering her I know, here Bobby! Dash it all'


The valiant Bobby stopped the cab, and said, 'what's the to do?
Cabby where are you driving?' Said the Cabby, 'To the Zoo'
And who's your fare? Cabby, it's a monkey, ne'er a doubt
He's nearly terrified to death, to hear his brothers shout.

Stop the cab; stop the cab, whoa, whoa, whoa,
Somebody hold the horse's head, and don't leave go
Nevertheless they had to confess, although they made a grab
There wasn't so much of a mystery in the hansom cab.

The year 1886 saw the publication of the best-selling crime novel The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Australian Fergus Hume. This 1888 parody was written for Irish comedian and dancer Walter Munroe by EW Rogers and AE Durandeau.

Cecilia Costello sang a fragment of this song (the chorus) to Charles Parker and Pam Bishop in 1967. The recording is available on CD: Cecilia Costello “Old Fashioned Songs” (MTCD363-4) or you can listen to it on the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library site

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