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London Town

(Ebb/Klein/Goldsmith)


(spoken) Thank you. Oh, thank you so much! Um... uh... I have something surprising to tell you. You, uh, might not have guessed from the kind of songs that I usually sing, that I, I never really get a chance to sing my favorite kind of song. See actually, my favorite kind of songs are folk ballads. Although, uh, although the-the-the correct pronunciation of that word is really ball-odds. That's my hobby, as, as a matter of fact. Researching, memorizing wonderful old folk...ball-odds. I know while most of you go out every night boogieing, and...places like Studio 54. I don't... It's just not my idea of a good time, y'know? No, I would much rather stay home poring over my books, and finding these wonderful old obscure folk...ball-odds. I particularly like Olde English um, folk...ball-odds, and I, I just recently discovered one that I thought was so glorious, I wanted to include it in our concert tonight. I mean, it's something I wanted to share with you. I mean, I feel it's something we should go through together. So, here is an Olde English folk...ball-odd.

Oh I've got to get to London Town
Within a week, within a week
Or Johnny Brown will sail away
And never know I love him

Oh, help me, sir, to London Town
The road is very long
I cannot pay the coachman's price
But I am very strong
I'll work for you
I'll mend for you
I'll make you loaves of bread
I'll fetch your ale and darn your socks
And light your way to bed

Oh I've got to get to London Town
Within six days, within six days
Or Johnny Brown will sail away
And never know I love him

Oh, help me, sir, to London Town
My journey has been slow
Another gentleman was kind
T'was sad to see him go
But you've as fair a face as he
And are as tall a man
And if you will help me on my way,
I'll do whate'er I can

Oh I've got to get to London Town
Within four days, within four days
Or what's-his-name will sail away
Never know I love him

Oh, help me, sir, to London Town
I long to hear its sounds
My heart is bursting in my breast
Come feel how hard it pounds
I've heard from men I've met before
Though I am rather shy
That fame and fortune 'wait me there
So amiable am I

Oh I've got to get to London Town
Within two days, within two days
I know there was a reason why......

Oh, help me, sir, to London Town
I long to see its tower
But oh, the trip has wearied me
I dain would rest an hour
Yet I am feared to sleep alone
The road is black with thieves
Will you protect me as I...lay
Defenseless on these knees?

Oh, once upon a long ago
I came to London Town
A-searching for a sailor boy
A lad named Johnny Brown
But now that I am twice as wise
And youth is twice as dim
I often wonder in the night
Whate'er became of him?
Whate'er became of him?


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