Pills Of White Mercury

As I was walking by the banks of the Ugie
Come my dear fellow and a story I will tell
I spied a dear comrade, dressed in white flannel
Dressed in white flannel and cruel was his fate

For the mercury was beating, the limestone was reeking
His tongue all inflamed hung over his chin
With a hole in his bosom, his teeth were a closin'
Bad luck to the girl who gave it to him

And had she but told me, when she dishonored me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
But now I'm a young man cut down in my prime

My parents they warned me and oftimes they chided
With those young flash girls do not sport and play
But I never listened, no I never heeded
I just carried on in my own wicked way

And had she but told me, when she dishonored me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
But now I'm a young man cut down in my prime

It was down on the corner two flash girls were taking
One to the other in a whipser did say
There goes that young man who once was so jolly
But now for his sins his poor body must pay

Oh doctor, dear doctor before your departure
Take all these bottles of mercury away
And send for the minister to say a prayer over me
Then you can lay more poor body in the clay

Now get you six fellows to carry my coffin
And six pretty faid maids to bear up my pall
And give each of them a bunch of red roses
So when they pass by me they'll not know the smell

And had she but told me, when she dishonored me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
But now I'm a young man cut down in my prime

And had she but told me, oh when she dishonored me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
But now I'm a young man cut down in my prime

Had she but told me
I might have been cured
Instead I'm a young man cut down in my prime