Peddling Round the World

When at first in foreign parts
Was her flag unfurled,
England was a Gipsy lass
Peddling round the world.
Sailing on the Spanish Main-
Everywhere you roam-
Peddling in the Persian Gulf
Things she'd made at home.
Peddling round the world,
Peddling round the world-
England was a Gipsy lass
Peddling round the world.
England never wanted war,
Not on land or sea-
Other nations rising up
Couldn't let her be.
England only wanted peace,
And the ocean's breath;
So there came, in course of time,
Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth-
Queen Elizabeth-
Came a plain, bad-tempered queen,
Called Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth, she called
Drake, and Raleigh too-
Essex, Howard, and the rest
Of the pirate crew;
"See what you can do," she said.
"England's feeling sick-
If you don't, I'll hang you all!
Better do it quick."
"Better do it quick," she said-
"Better do it quick";
And they knew she'd keep her word,
So they did it quick.
Drake and Raleigh sailed away-
(Only Bess they feared)
Cleared the Spanish Main and singed
The King of Spain his beard-
Singed the King of Spain his beard,
And his hair they curled.
England was a Gipsy's love
Peddling round the world.
Peddling round the world,
Peddling round the world.
England was a Gipsy's love
Peddling round the world.
Once again, when Cromwell came,
England wanted room;
So he lowered Holland's tone,
Smashed the Dutchman's broom.
Sent a message to Algiers;
Made its meaning plain-
On the way they called once more
On the King of Spain.
On the King of Spain-
On the King of Spain:
Called, to jog his memory,
On the King of Spain.
So the years went round and round,
Over hills and flats-
England was a Gipsy wife-
England had her brats;
Peddling in the China Sea,
Far from English ground;
Doing biz with Mrs. Jap-
Peddling all around.
Peddling all around-
Peddling all around;
Making friends with Mrs. Jap-
Peddling all around.
When the war is past and gone,
With its blood and tears;
And the world may count upon
Peace for fifty years-
When the gory battle-flags
Round their sticks are furled-
Then you'll see a Gipsy crone
Peddling round the world.
Peddling round the world-
Peddling round the world.
Then you'll see a Gipsy crone
A-peddling round the world!
Shawl as old as Joseph's coat,
Hair as white as snow,
Mind as bright as Seventeen-
Eyes still like the sloe-
Peddling in the Southern Seas-
Everywhere you roam-
And she'll fill her baskets here
With things we'll make at home.
Things we'll make at home-
Things we'll make at home-
Call to fill her baskets here
With things we'll make at HOME.