A MOTHER'S LAMENT
( My Baby's Gorn Dahn The Plug'ole )
by
Anonymous

A mother was bathing her baby one night
The youngest of ten, and a tiny young mite
The mother was poor and the baby was thin
Only a skellington covered with skin
The mother turned round for the soap off the rack
She was but a moment, but when she looked back
Her baby was gawn and in anguish she cried
“Oh where is my baby?” The Angels replied,

Chorus:
“Your baby has gone down the plug-hole
Your baby has gone down the plug
The poor little thing was so skinny and thin
It should have been washed in a jug
Your baby is ever so happy
He won’t need a bath any more
Your baby has gone down the plug-hole
Not lost but gone before.”

The mother was frantic, the baby was gawn
But she had got nine more, and the water still warm
She covered her eye-balls and stuck in a pin
Picked out another one ever so thin
Then into the water she brushed off a tear
When she turned back, she said “crumbs it’s not here”
“Now that one has gawn” and in anguish she cried
“Oh where is my baby?” The Angels replied,

Chorus:

The mother was livid. “How dare you” she cried
“Don’t take no more chances” the Angels replied
“We’ve had your two youngens, we’d like a few more”
Then gave her a nice smile and dissolved through the floor
Now mother was boiling. She smashed in the bath
“You’re not having my kids” she cried with a laugh
Now they’ve not touched no water from that very day
“It’s the smell” Mother says, “That keeps the Angels away.”

Chorus: