Coin references in songs

[De Orc]

'Round and 'round the cobbler's bench

The monkey chased the weasel,

The monkey thought 'twas all in fun

Pop! Goes the weasel.

 

A penny for a spool of thread

A penny for a needle,

That's the way the money goes,

Pop! Goes the weasel.

 

A half a pound of tupenny rice,

A half a pound of treacle.

Mix it up and make it nice,

Pop! Goes the weasel.

 

Up and down the London road,

In and out of the Eagle,

That's the way the money goes,

Pop! Goes the weasel.

 

I've no time to plead and pine,

I've no time to wheedle,

Kiss me quick and then I'm gone

Pop! Goes the weasel.

[De Orc]

Elvis Costello - Any King’s Shilling Lyrics

 

You’re a fine one, oh yes you are

You’re a fine one just like me

And we’re friends now, oh wouldn’t you say?

We’ve been friends now, oh haven’t we?

Stay at home tonight if you know what’s good for you

I can’t say more it would be telling

For if you don’t what will become of you

Just isn’t worth any king’s shilling

 

I will answer when they make that call, pull upon this ragged uniform

Up ‘til now I know it’s been your trade

Spit and polish the potato parade

Stay at home tonight if you know what’s good for you

I can’t say more it would be telling

For if you don’t what will become of you

Just isn’t worth any king’s shilling

 

Please don’t put your silly head in that pretty soldier’s hat

You’ve done your duty, that’s enough of that

 

I don’t know if what I’m doing is right

I don’t know if you should be forgiving

But for me it seems it means my life

While for you it could just be a living

Stay at home tonight if you know what’s good for you

I can’t say more it would be telling

For if you don’t what will become of you

Just isn’t worth any king’s shilling

 

Please don’t put your silly head in that British soldier’s hat

You’ve done your duty that’s enough of that

 

You’re a fine one, oh yes you are

You’re a fine one, just like me

[De Orc]

Traditional Folk Song

 

The King's Shilling

 

The King's Shilling

 

Oh my love has left me wi' bairnies twa

And that's the last o' him I ever saw

He's joined the army and he marched awa'

He took the shillin'

He took the shillin' and he marched awa'

 

Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar

Tak' the King's shilling an' we're off tae war

 

Oh he looked sae prood and sae gallant then

Wi' his kilt and sporran an' his musket gun

And the ladies kissed them as they marched awa'

And they sailed awa' boys

They sailed awa', boys, by the Broomielaw

 

The pipes they played as they marched along

And the men they sang oot a battle song

"March on, march on," cried our Captain gay

And for King and country

For King and country we will fight this day

 

The battle echoed tae the sound o' guns

And bayonets flashed in the morning sun

The drums did beat and the cannons roared

And the shillin' didn't seem

The shillin' didn't seem much worth no more

 

Some lost the battle their bodies fell

Cut doon by bayonets and musket ball

And many o' these brave young men

Would never fight for

Would never fight for their King again

 

Oh my love has left me wi' bairnies twa

And that's the last o' him I ever saw

He's joined the army and he marched awa'

He took the shillin'

He took the shillin' and he marched awa'

[De Orc]

Mary Queen of Scots

 

Well stroll on

I think I'm getting into Scotia

Everybody knows the song

Flowers brave and Kings forever

Mary Queen of Scots danced

Round all the shops wearing

Hand me downs bought for

Half a crown.

It goes on.

Gown with a half a crown.

It goes on.

Mary Queen is lookin great.

It goes on.

 

Hold on. My song.

 

Well come on

I think I'll do the Fonda work-out

Everybody's is getting strong

They're going to have to

Drink the water

Mary Queen of Scots

Wasn't very hot in a wedding

Gown bought with half a crown

I need your everything, everything

To make it all worthwhile

While we wait Mary Queen

Is looking great.

[De Orc]

Lancashire Lass

 

Here's to the maid in Lancashire Town

Here's to the maid in the cadelico

I vow and declare he loved her so dear

Cause she did wear pretty caps upon her hair

 

Fol the dol the day

 

Says Master unto Missus I'm going out of town

Says Missus unto Betsy, You go unto your bed

And I for your Master

Will wait up in your stead.

 

Twelve o'clock came and knock was at the door

Missus went out to see who was there

And on the cold ground he tumbled her down

And into her hand he put half a crown

 

Horses out in stable a making of a noise

Master went out to see who was there

Missus cropped upstairs and laughed at the fun

To think how the maid and the master was undone

 

Next morning at breakfast the bell she did ring

Saying here's half a crown that your master gave to me

And many a bright crown has he turned unto thee

 

She tooked her by the shoulders and led her to the door

Saying There's no home for a wife and a wench

For all this long time I never can endure

For I can't come in for a morsel of my share

 

And all that they done, they done in a month

And after that they turned bump to bump.

 

Fol the dol day

[De Orc]

Now here is one that might strike a chord or two

 

Revolutionary Tea

 

There was an old lady lived over the sea

And she was an island queen

Her daughter lived off in a new country

With an ocean of water between

The old lady's pockets were full of gold

But never contented was she

So she called on her daughter to pay her a tax

Of three pence a pound on her tea

Of three pence a pound on her tea

 

"Now mother dear mother," the daughter replied,

"I shan't do the thing you ax.

I'm willing to pay a fair price for the tea,

But never the three-penny tax."

"You shall," quoth the mother, and reddened with rage,

"For you're my own daughter, you see,

And sure 'tis quite proper the daughter should pay

Her mother a tax on her tea,

Her mother a tax on her tea."

 

And so the old lady her servant called up

And packed off a budget of tea;

And eager for three pence a pound, she put in

Enough for a large familie.

She ordered her servants to bring home the tax,

Declaring her child should obey,

Or old as she was, and almost woman grown,

She'd half whip her life away,

She'd half whip her life away.

 

The tea was conveyed to the daughter's door,

All down by the ocean's side;

And the bouncing girl pour'd out every pound

In the dark and boiling tide;

And then she called out to the Island Queen,

"Oh, mother, dear mother," quoth she,

"Your tea you may have when 'tis steep'd quite enough

But never a tax from me

But never a tax from me

[De Orc]

GOLF GIRL (Caravan)

Words and Music

by Richard Sinclair

 

 

 

Standing on a golf course

Dressed in P.V.C.

I chanced upon a Golf Girl

Selling cups of tea

She asked me did I want one

Asked me with a grin

For three pence you can buy one

Full right to the brim

 

So of course I had to have one

In fact I ordered three

So I could watch the Golf Girl

Could see she fancied me

And later on the golf course

After drinking tea

It started raining golf balls

And she protected me

 

Her name was Pat

And we sat under a tree

She kissed me

We go for walks

In fine weather

All together

On the golf course

We talk in morse

[geordie582]

Here's one my mother used to sing at all family parties.

 

Mrs. McNally

 

I took Mrs. McNally to a fancy ball

The ticket I bought cost two and six, I thought that would be all.

But when she asked for supper, you could have knocked me down,

for all the money I had in the world was only half-a-crown.

 

She'd an oyster raw, a lobster claw, a turkey's leg and breast.

Ham and tongue, for a girl so young, she laid across her chest,

Mutton and beef, beyond belief, a half hogs head went down,

Well I nearly died when she asked for more, for I'd only a half-a-crown.

 

Now this woman was a settler. She almost drove me mad.

She said "George dear, would you buy me a drink, for my appetite is bad".

Now underneath her overcoat, she must have had a tank

or a second handed brewery, for this is what she drank.

 

She'd a bottle of Bass and a good stiff glass of brandy to begin

An awful lot of whiskey hot and a dose of rum and gin.

Guinness and stout she poured about, a hogshead halfway down.

I fell to the floor when she asked for more, for I'd only a half-a-crown.

 

The people stared, the waiter glared to see her shift such stuff.

When she said" George take me home, I think I've had enough."

I gave the waiter my half-a-crown and said "I'll owe the rest."

Then he altered the size of my two eyes and jumped upon my chest.

 

He gave me a kick in the small of my back, and shook me into fits.

He tore my clothes and broke my nose, and smashed me up in bits

I was hammered and licked, bruised and kicked and chased all over town

I was all swelled up like a poisened pup and I lost my half-a-crown.

[Art]

Money, Money, Money -- ABBA

 

I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay

Aint it sad

And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me

Thats too bad

In my dreams I have a plan

If I got me a wealthy man

I wouldnt have to work at all, Id fool around and have a ball...

 

Money, money, money

Must be funny

In the rich mans world

Money, money, money

Always sunny

In the rich mans world

Aha-ahaaa

All the things I could do

If I had a little money

Its a rich mans world

...

[Topher]

I love rock n' roll

So put another dime in the jukebox, baby

I love rock n' roll

So come an' take your time an' dance with me.

 

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

[UncleBobo]

This is probably the most well known coin reference in song in all of the United States.

 

Shave and a haircut...TWO BITS!!!!!

[tommyd]

"...A penny for your thoughts

a nickel for a kiss --

a dime if you tell me

that you love me..."

 

Tavares

[Dockwalliper]

Clean shirt, new shoes

And I dont know where I am goin to.

Silk suit, black tie,

I dont need a reason why.

They come runnin just as fast as they can

Coz every girl crazy bout a Eighteen-Ninety-Four S dime.

 

- ZZ Top

 

More like ZZ Deadpoint

[thedeadpoint]

More like ZZ Deadpoint

 

Oh man, you've been crackin' on me more than usual today. If I were motivated enough, I'd retaliate.

[Art]

Just about a year ago

I set out on the road

Seekin' my fame and fortune

Lookin' for a pot of gold

Thing got bad, things got worse

I guess you will know the tune

Oh ! Lord, Stuck in Lodi again

 

Rode in on the Greyhound

I'll be walkin' out if I go

I was just passin' through

Must be seven seven months or more

Ran out of time and money

Looks like they took my friends

Oh ! Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again

 

The man from the magazine

Said I was on my way

Somewhere I lost connections

Ran out of songs to play

I came into town, a one night stand

Looks like my plans fell through

Oh ! Lord, Stuck in Lodi again

 

If I only had a dollar

For every song I've sung

And every time I had to play

While people sat there drunk

You know, I'd catch the next train

Back to where I live

Oh ! Lord, I'm stuck in a Lodi again

Oh ! Lord, I'm stuck in a Lodi again

 

 

Lodi

Written by John Fogerty

Performed originally by Creedence Clearwater Revival

One of the most popular songs CCR ever recorded and performed that never charted in the Top 40..it was the "B" side of the single "Bad Moon Rising" and peaked at #52 on the Hot 100 singles chart

The song was released in 1969 on the "Green River" album

 

He's obviously taking about an Ike or maybe an SBA.......

[UncleBobo]

"In the early morning rain, with a dollar in my hand."

 

Gordon Lightfoot-Early Morning rain.

 

I was waiting to post that because I figured one of our Canadian Coinpeeps would've done it. For shame!! For shame!!

[Topher]

"In the early morning rain, with a dollar in my hand."

 

Gordon Lightfoot-Early Morning rain.

 

I was waiting to post that because I figured one of our Canadian Coinpeeps would've done it. For shame!! For shame!!

 

I might be a Canadian, but it hasn't been a year yet, but you're right. I sell music books to retailers all day long and I should know all of the Gordon Lightfoot/Neil Young/etc. by now!

[De Orc]

Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell

 

I've been walkin' these streets so long

Singin' the same old song

I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway

Where hustle's the name of the game

And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain

There's been a load of compromisin'

On the road to my horizon

But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me

 

Like a rhinestone cowboy

Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo

Like a rhinestone cowboy

Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know

And offers comin' over the phone

 

Well, I really don't mind the rain

And a smile can hide all the pain

But you're down when you're ridin' the train that's takin' the long way

And I dream of the things I'll do

With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe

There'll be a load of compromisin'

On the road to my horizon

But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me

 

Like a rhinestone cowboy

Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo

Rhinestone cowboy

Gettin' cards and letters from people I don't even know

And offers comin' over the phone

 

Like a rhinestone cowboy

Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo

 

FADE

Like a rhinestone cowboy

Gettin' card and letters from people I don't even know

[De Orc]

Sylvia's mother By Dr Hook & the Medicine Show

 

Sylvia's mother says, Sylvia's busy

Too busy to come to the phone

Sylvia's mother says, Sylvia's tryin'

To start a new life of her own

Sylvia's mother says, Sylvia's happy

So why don't you leave her alone

 

And the operator says, 40 cents more

For the next 3 minutes

Ple-ease Mrs Avery, I just gotta talk to her

I'll only keep her a while

Please Mrs Avery, I just wanna tell 'er goodbye

 

Sylvia's mother says, Sylvia's packin'

She's gonna be leavin' today

Sylvia's mother says, Sylvia's marryin'

A fella down Galveston way

Sylvia's mother says, please don't say nothin'

To make her start cryin' and stay

 

And the operator says, 40 cents more

For the next 3 minutes

Ple-ease Mrs Avery, I just gotta talk to her

I'll only keep her a while

Please Mrs Avery, I just wanna tell 'er goodbye

 

Sylvia's mother says, Sylvia's hurryin'

She's catchin' the nine o'clock train

Sylvia's mother says, take your umbrella

'Cause Sylvia, it's startin' to rain

And Sylvia's mother says, thank you for callin'

And, sir, won't you call back again

 

And the operator says, 40 cents more

For the next 3 minutes

Ple-ease Mrs Avery, I just gotta talk to her

I'll only keep her a while

Please Mrs Avery, I just wanna tell 'er goodbye

 

Tell her goodbye

Please

Tell her goodbye

[Abish]

Get me to the train on time here take this nickel make a dime

Take this penny and make it into a necklace when I leave

 

REM--- Auctioneer (Another Engine)

[Rotten Rodney]

!!!!!!! Speak of missing persons. . . . !!!!!!!

[Guest Stujoe]

Get me to the train on time here take this nickel make a dime

Take this penny and make it into a necklace when I leave

 

REM--- Auctioneer (Another Engine)

 

Jess! Long time no see.

[Art]

Well get that! Abish has returned.