Shilling or Two, A (Music Hall version, 1869)

A SHILLING OR TWO (1869)
Words by Harry Lynn. Music by HW Fitchett.
Sung by Victor Liston with the greatest success.

This is trash I'm writing 
And yet still it is true 
That each mortal is fighting 
For a shilling or two 
And pray what crime is so great 
That is known unto you 
As this - to be rather short
Of a shilling or two 

A shilling or two, a shilling or two,
Tis fearful to want a shilling or two,
This wicked world you can never get thro'
Lest you're possessed of a shilling or two.

Now if your friends would try 
There's but 1 thing to do 
Just ask them to lend you 
But a shilling or two
And you will find your sworn friends
Turn their backs upon you 
For it is dreadful to want 
Just a shilling or two.

A shilling or two, a shilling or two, 
Friends can be bought for a shilling or two,
Yes, yes it is true you'll find it is true, 
Friends can be sold for a shilling or two.

Now pray to girls wed for love, 
Well perhaps some of them do
But they more often do wed
Just a shilling or two.
Mind most men are the same, 
But their folly they rue;
Because real joy is not bought, 
For a a shilling or two.

A shilling or two, a shilling or two,
It oft proves a curse, a shilling or two.
Young maidens are bought and young men sold too
And all for what, just a shilling or two

Perhaps you may think it's strange 
Yet still it is true
But I'm singing these few lines
For a shilling or two
And I've not been back biting 
But search the whole wide world through
And all men you'll see fighting
For a shilling or two

A shilling or two, a shilling or two
Wonderful charms has a shilling or two
It buys things on Earth that's all it can do 
But heaven's not bought for a shilling or two