We had to move away,
'Cos the rent we couldn't pay,
The moving van came round just after dark.
There was me and my old man,
Shoving things inside the van,
Which we'd often done before, let me remark.
We packed all that could be packed
In the van, and that's a fact,
And we got inside all we could get inside.
Then we packed all we could pack
On the tailboard at the back,
Till there wasn't any room for me to ride.
Chorus:
My old man said, "Follow the van,
And don't dilly dally on the way!"
Off went the van with the home packed in it.
I walked behind with my old cock linnet.
But I dillied and dallied, dallied and dillied,
Lost me way and don't know where to roam.
I stopped on the way to have the old half quarter,
And I cant find my way home
I gave a helping hand
With the marble wash hand stand,
And straight, we wasn't getting on so bad.
All at once the car man bloke
Had an accident and broke,
Well, the nicest bit of china that we had.
You'll understand of course,
I was cross about the loss,
Same as any other human woman would.
But I soon got over that,
What with "two-out" and a chat,
'Cos it's little things like that what does you good.
Chorus same as above with the last two lines changed to: Now who's going to put up the old iron bedstead, If I can't find my way home.
Oh! I'm in such a mess.
I don't know the new address.
Don't even know the blessed neighbourhood.
And I feel as if I might
Have to stay out all the night,
And that ain't a-goin' to do me any good.
I don't make no complaint,
But I'm coming over faint.
What I want now is a good substantial feed.
And I sort o' kind o' feel,
If I don't have a meal,
I shall have to rob the linnet of his seed!
Chorus with the last two lines changed to: You can't trust a "special" like the old time "copper", When you can't find your way home.