Constab Ballads (1912)
Knutsford Park Races
BATCH o’ p’licemen, lookin’ fine,
Tramp away to de car line;
No more policemen can be
Smart as those from Half Way Tree
Happy, all have happy faces,
For ’tis Knutsford Park big races.
No room in de tram fe stan’:
“Oh! de races will be gran’,—
Wonder ef good luck we’ll hab,
Get fe win a couple bob!”
Joyous, only joyous faces,
Goin’ to de Knutsford races.
Motor buggy passin’ by,
Sendin’ dus’ up to de sky;
P’licemen, posted diffran’ place,
Buy dem ticket on de race:
Look now for de anxious faces
At de Knutsford Park big races!
Big-tree[1] boys a t’row dem dice:
“P’lice te-day no ha’ no v’ice,
All like we,[2] so dem caan’ mell,[3]—
Mek we gamble laka hell”:
Bowdy, rowdy-looking faces
At de Knutsford Park big races.
Ladies white an’ brown an’ black,
Fine as fine in gala frock,
Wid dem race-card in dem han’
Pass ‘long to de dollar stan’:
Happy-lookin’ lady faces
At de Knutsford Park big races.
Ge’men wid dem smart spy-glass,
Well equip’ fe spot dem harse,
Dress’ in Yankee-fashion clo’es,
Watch de flag as do’n it goes:
Oh! de eager, eager faces
At de Knutsford Park big races!
Faces of all types an’ kinds,
Faces of all types an’ kinds,
Faces showin’ diffran’ minds,
Faces from de udder seas
Right from de antipodes:
Oh! de many various faces
Seen at Knutsford Park big races
Jockeys lookin’ quite dem bes’,
In deir racin’ clo’es all dress’
(Judge de feelin’s how dem proud)
Show de harses to de crowd:
Now you’ll see de knowin’ faces
At de Knutsford Park big races.
Soldier ban’, formed in a ring,
Strike up “God save our king”;
Gub’nor come now by God’s grace
To de Knutsford Park big race:
High faces among low faces
At de Knutsford Park big races.
Ladies, ‘teppin’ up quite cool,
Buy dem tickets at de pool;
Dough ’tis said he’s got a jerk,
Dere’s no harse like Billie Burke:
Look roun’ at de cock-sure faces
At de Knutsford Park big races.
Hey! de flag is gone do’n, oh!
Off at grips de harses go!
Dainty’s leadin’ at a boun’,
Stirrup-cup is gainin’ ground’:
Strainin’, eager strainin’ faces
At de Knutsford Park big races.
Last day o’ de race — all’s done,
An’ de course is left alone;
Everybody’s goin’ home,
Some more light dan when dey’d come:
Oh! de sad, de bitter faces
After Knutsford Park big races!