The Pills of White Mercury

As I was a-walking by the banks o' the Ugie Come, my dear friends, and this story I'll relate I spied a dear comrade all dressed in white flannel Dressed in white flannel and cruel was his fate Oh the mercury was beating, the limestone was reeking His tongue all in flames hung over his chin A hole in his bosom, his teeth were a-closing Bad luck to the girlie that gied him the glim Chorus (after each verse): And had she but told me, oh when she dishonored me Had she but told me of it in time I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury Now I'm a young man cut down in my prime My parents, they warned me and oft times they chided With those young flash girls do not sport and play I never listened, no, I never heeded I just carried on in my own wicked way It's down on the corner two flash girls were talking One to the other did whisper and say "There goes that young man who once was so jolly Now for his sins his poor body must pay" Oh doctor, dear doctor, before your departure Take all these bottles of mercury away Send for the minister to say a prayer over me So they can lay my poor body in the clay Now get you six fellows to carry my coffin Six pretty fair maids to bear up my pall Give each of them there a bunch of red roses When they pass by me, they'll not know the smell