Fred W. Leigh (1871-1924) and Charles Collins (1874-1923)
My Old Man Said ‘Follow the Van...’
‘i, sequere’ inquit erus ‘pantechnicon, impigra cursu.’
plaustrum abiit; veterem constat abisse domum.
en sequor, en sequitur passer meus ille canorus,
sed pigra, sed pigro corde soluta vagor,
nescio qua. vigili suffecto credere noli!
quae via sit, fallor; fallit adempta domus.My old man said "Follow the van,
And don't dilly dally on the way".
Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it,
I followed on wiv me old cock linnet.
But I dillied and dallied, dallied and dillied
Lost me way and don't know where to roam.
Well you can't trust a special like the old time coppers
When you can't find your way 'ome.
Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès
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