The Jovial Broom Man
Text: Roxburghe Ballads. Tune: Jamaica, from
Playford's The Dancing Master pub. 1670, 4th
edition.
Room for a lad that's come from seas
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
That gladly now would take his ease,
And therefore make me room man.
To France, the Netherlands and Spain,
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
I crossed the seas and back again,
And therefore make me room man.
Yet in these countries there lived I
Hey! Jolly Broom Man
And Valiant soldiers I've seen die
And therefore make me room man.
Ten hundred gallants there I killed,
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
And besides a world of blood I spilled,
And therefore make me room man.
In Germany I took a town,
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
Threw the walls there upside down,
And therefore make me room man.
At Tilbury Camp with Captain Drake
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
I made the Spanish fleet to quake.
And therefore make me room man.
At Holland's Leaguer there I fought
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
But there the service proved too hot.
And therefore make me room man.
Then from the League returned I
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
Naked, hungry, cold and dry
And therefore make me room man.
But here I've now compassed the globe,
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
And I'm returned us poor as Job,
And therefore make we room man.
And now I'm safe returned here,
Hey! Jolly Broom Man,
Here's to you in a cup of English beer.
And therefore make me room man.