I saddled my horse and I galloped away,
'Til I came to an ale house in town,
I called for some ale at the end of the day,
And here by the fire sat down.
I had in my pocket a penny,
And a penny was all that I had,
I called for some ale at the end of the day,
But a penny was all that I had.
I saw there two gentlemen playing at dice,
They took me for a soldier bold,
With my swagger and rapier and countenance nice,
Thought my pockets were lined with gold.
And I had in my pocket a penny,
And a penny was all that I had,
With my swagger and rapier and countenance nice,
A penny was all that I had.
"Oh soldier, dear sir," they said "do you play?"
"What stakes do you lay down?"
One said a guinea we're meaning to play,
I said "let's lay down five pound".
I had in my pocket a penny,
And a penny was all that I had,
One said a guinea we're meaning to play,
But a penny was all that I had.
I took up the dice and I threw them the main,
The night was free from curse,
The heavens I thanked for I managed to gain,
For I threw down a moneyless purse.
And I had in my pocket a penny,
And a penny was all that I had,
The heavens I thanked for I managed to gain,
A penny was all that I had.
Was ever a mortal as quarter as glad,
Courage galore in my spine,
With the littlest money that first I had,
I pray you to pour out the wine.
And I had in my pocket a penny,
And a penny was all that I had,
With the littlest money that first I had,
A penny was all that I had.
And I had in my pocket a penny,
And a penny was all that I had,
With the littlest money that first I had,
A penny was all that I had.