dots-menu
×

Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  444. Sally in our Alley

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Henry Carey. 1693?–1743

444. Sally in our Alley

OF all the girls that are so smart 
  There ‘s none like pretty Sally; 
She is the darling of my heart, 
  And she lives in our alley. 
There is no lady in the land         5
  Is half so sweet as Sally; 
She is the darling of my heart, 
  And she lives in our alley. 
 
Her father he makes cabbage-nets, 
  And through the streets does cry ’em;  10
Her mother she sells laces long 
  To such as please to buy ’em; 
But sure such folks could ne’er beget 
  So sweet a girl as Sally! 
She is the darling of my heart,  15
  And she lives in our alley. 
 
When she is by, I leave my work, 
  I love her so sincerely; 
My master comes like any Turk, 
  And bangs me most severely:  20
But let him bang his bellyful, 
  I’ll bear it all for Sally; 
She is the darling of my heart, 
  And she lives in our alley. 
 
Of all the days that ‘s in the week  25
  I dearly love but one day— 
And that ‘s the day that comes betwixt 
  A Saturday and Monday; 
For then I’m drest all in my best 
  To walk abroad with Sally;  30
She is the darling of my heart, 
  And she lives in our alley. 
 
My master carries me to church, 
  And often am I blamèd 
Because I leave him in the lurch  35
  As soon as text is namèd; 
I leave the church in sermon-time 
  And slink away to Sally; 
She is the darling of my heart, 
  And she lives in our alley.  40
 
When Christmas comes about again, 
  O, then I shall have money; 
I’ll hoard it up, and box it all, 
  I’ll give it to my honey: 
I would it were ten thousand pound,  45
  I’d give it all to Sally; 
She is the darling of my heart, 
  And she lives in our alley. 
 
My master and the neighbors all 
  Make gave of me and Sally,  50
And, but for her, I’d better be 
  A slave and row a galley; 
But when my seven long years are out, 
  O, then I’ll marry Sally; 
O, then we’ll wed, and then we’ll bed—  55
  But not in our alley!