Captive's Lament.

Air: "Kathleen Mavourneen."

"There is no time like the present."

William, sweet William, farewell to your jemmy,
Your bulls-eye and crowbar, and all of their likes;
No more we'll go roving by moonlight, for demme
We're permanent boarders, my sweet William Psyches.
Oh! this is the haven of bootless endeavour;
Our dear Aunt Maria has just brought us here,
It may be for years, and it may be for ever,
Then Warder, hey, Warder, a bottle of beer!
It may be for years and it may be for ever,
Then Warder, hey, Warder, a bottle of beer!

William, the law's full of obsolete ritual
The dawn steals, the moon steals from mountain and hill,
But just because we seem to be more habitual,
They've landed us here on a score of true bills.
From scenes of our triumphs we hated to sever,
And now we're behind, not in front of, the bars.
It may be for years, and it may be for ever,
Then Warder, hey, Warder, produce the cigars!
It may be for years, and it may be for ever,
Then Warder, hey, Warder, produce the cigars!

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William, sweet William, remember the friction—
A slight one—we had with that Cop. down the street.
Then little we dreamed that a previous conviction
Would turn that sweet victory into defeat,
Would take us for ever away from his beat.
William, sweet William, to think we who never
Sought notice or kudos, in this place should land,
It may be for years, and it may be for ever,
Then Warder, hey, Warder, pray strike up the band!
It may be for years, and it may be for ever,
Then Warder, hey, Warder, pray strike up the band!