I’ve only come down for the day

I'VE ONLY COME DOWN FOR THE DAY
(Francis Hunter and Day No.916 Sixpenny Popular Edition)

Written and composed by Frank Leo. 
Sung by Sam Mayo

When I was young I'd an Eton boy's suit, 
Tho' I didn't go to that famous school.
Still 'twas an Eton suit, true;
And part of it's moth-eaten too.
I only wore it to go to the school treat; 
I wanted to swank as they say.
We went to Hastings, and very nice too, but
We only went down for the day.

I asked an old chap where the park was; 
He stutter'd; here's how he began:
"You ta-ta-ta-take the third tur-tur-tur-turning, 
And go-go-go straight as you can,
Then tur-tur-tur-turn to your le-le-le-left 
And th-th-th-then yer best way
Is to go- go- go- go—"; I said,
"That'll do; thank you; 
I've only come down for the day".

Everyone stared at my Eton Boy's suit
As tho' to say, "He's well-to-do!"
Well-to-do and with a few ...
Just place the accent on the "do"
Talk about beggars, a lot tried to touch me, 
But I pushed them all on one side.
There was one chap with one leg and on crutches 
Came hobbling up to me and cried:

"You've got a kind face, my young feller,
I hope an old man you'll excuse.
I've lost my left leg by an accident, mate, 
And a leg ain't a nice thing to lose.
You're lucky, my son, you ain't lost any legs; 
I've lost one, I'm sorry to say".
I said, "Well I'd help you to find it, old boy, but 
I've only come down for the day".

I don't know if it was my Eton suit, 
But but all our boys gave me the slip
As I threw stones in the sea,
An old fellow came up to me
He cried "Hallo! sonny, are you a native?"
I answered "Now what's the idea?
Am I a "native"! d'yer think I'm an oyster?"
He said: "I mean were you born here?"

A famous old town, boy, is Hastings
As history records will teach 
Why, William the Conqueror landed at Hastings,
Yes! Landed on this very beach
I'll give you a shilling my boy, for yourself
If you can tell me straight away
When did William land? I said "I didn't see him,
I've only come down for the day"
 
There as I sat on a seat all alone 
A party of lunatics pass'd.
From some asylum they'd be, 
And one girl look'd so hard at me.
She broke away unobserved by her keepers 
And said to me, "Hello, my sweet".
That balmy girl she chuck'd me under the chin, 
And then I chucked her under the seat.

Said she, "This is our wedding morning, 
And soon we shall be man and wife.
We'll love one another for ever and ever 
And settle in Hastings for life. 
We'll just have two children to start with, I think: 
A boy and a girl; what d'you say?"
I said, "Well I think, miss, you're asking too much, miss; 
I've only come down for the day".

There on the beach, a teetotal brigade
Had gathered a very large crowd.
I thought, I may as well stand
And hear the sweet strains of their band
It wasn't bad but somehow the big drum
Seem'd to worry the drum of my ear.
When that was over, an old chap got up and 
He said "My friends! Be of good cheer,

"We're gathered together this morning
To tell you how wicked you've been
To stop you from spending your money on drink, we
Shall pass round our tambourine.
And now my dear friends if you've sinn'd in your lives, 
Come up and confess it, I pray!"
Said I "Well I'd like to confess all my sins, but
I've only come down for the day"