When the cock begins to crow
AKA | Jump out of bed |
First Published | 1880 |
Writer/composer | Harry Linn / R. Howard | Roud | RN12895 |
Music Hall Performers | Harry Linn |
Folk performances | Source Singers Scott, Harry 1959 England : Bedfordshire Pardon, Walter 1978 Norfolk unknown singer, collected by Alfred Wiliams |
Many sluggards I have seen Of many I have read Who waste away their precious time By being fond of bed; But if you will take my advice - You'll find it good and true - How to gain both health and wealth I'll quickly tell to you. Jump out of bed, jump out of bed, For lying long looks lazy, If the morn be wet or dry, Or if it should be hazy; Light or dark, get up with the lark, Don't care for frost or snow. Jump out of bed, jump out of bed, When the cock begins to crow. I never saw a lazy man I could depend upon, I never saw a lazy man Who ever did get on; Idle and inactive They will lie in bed all day, For they prefer just like the sloth To sleep their time away. I love to see the farmer In the fields at early morn, He looks so gay and happy As he works among the corn; Early off to bed he goes, Too long he never sleeps, For well he knows the adage - He must sow before he reaps. So if you would be healthy, Wealthy, prosperous and wise, Never lie and slumber When the sun is in the skies; Spend your evenings soberly, And don't stay out too late, Be early up to sow the seed And the harvest will be great.
A music Hall song written and sung by Harry Linn , which appears in multiple broadsides and some sheets Not to be confused with the song of the same name by Purcell.
The song was sung as part of a series of fragments by Walter Pardon alongside Wake Up Johnny , Saving them all for Mary, and Down by the old abbey ruins. You can here them at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library
Sources:
- Entries in the Roud Indexes at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library: https://archives.vwml.org/search/all:single[folksong-broadside-books]/0_50/all/score_desc/extended-roudNo_tr%3A12895
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics: Harry Linn’s Fire-Side Song Book (c1887)