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Birmingham Boys 
Birmingham Boys 
In Birmingham town there lived a man And he had such a lov-e-ly wife And so dearly she loved company As dearly as she loved life, boys, life As dearly as she loved life 
And this poor man he goes to sea His living for to get And where he spent one penny, she spent two And it's all for the want of wit, boys, wit... 
When this poor man came home from sea It being late in the night Enquiring for his own dear wife Was his joy and his heart's delight, boys, light... 
"Oh she's just gone to her sister's oh Shall I go fetch her in?" Saying, "Oh my dear, I will go myself And ask myself to drink, boys, drink..." 
As he was a-going along the road He heard such a dis-a-mal noise And who should it be but his own dear wife Along with the Birmingham boys, brave boys,... 
So this poor man stood thinking His heart was nearly broke Then he went back and sent the maid While he prepared a rope, boys, rope... 
Then she came jumping, skipping in Gave him such a joyful kiss Saying, "You're welcome home, kind husband, dear Long time you have been missed, boys, missed... 
So we'll bar the door so neat and snug And let us go to bed For the pain that do lay in my breast I can no longer rest, boys, rest.. 
So he took a switch and he beat her so Till she was wonderful sore "Oh forbear, forbear," she cried, "Husband dear, I'll never do so no more, no more..." 
"For if you do, I'll make you rue And curse the hour you were born For deceiving of your husband dear I'll make you wear the horn, boys, horn..." 
So come all you women in Birmingham And listen unto me And don't you spend your money a-waste When your husband is on the sea, boys, sea... 
Printed in Kennedy Folksongs of Britain and Ireland Recorded by Martin Carthy SOF