The Smugglers Song by Rudyard Kipling (1906)

IF you wake at midnight, and hear a horse’s feet,

Don’t go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street,

Them that ask no questions isn’t told a lie.

Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by.

Five and twenty ponies,

Trotting through the dark –

Brandy for the Parson, ‘Baccy for the Clerk.

Laces for a lady; letters for a spy,

Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by!

Running round the woodlump if you chance to find

Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine,

Don’t you shout to come and look, nor use ’em for your play.

Put the brishwood back again – and they’ll be gone next day !

If you see the stable-door setting open wide;

If you see a tired horse lying down inside;

If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore;

If the lining’s wet and warm – don’t you ask no more !

If you meet King George’s men, dressed in blue and red,

You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said.

If they call you ” pretty maid,” and chuck you ‘neath the chin,

Don’t you tell where no one is, nor yet where no one’s been !

Knocks and footsteps round the house – whistles after dark –

You’ve no call for running out till the house-dogs bark.

Trusty’s here, and Pincher’s here, and see how dumb they lie

They don’t fret to follow when the Gentlemen go by !

‘If You do as you’ve been told, ‘likely there’s a chance,

You’ll be give a dainty doll, all the way from France,

With a cap of Valenciennes, and a velvet hood –

A present from the Gentlemen, along ‘o being good !

Five and twenty ponies,

Trotting through the dark –

Brandy for the Parson, ‘Baccy for the Clerk.

Them that asks no questions isn’t told a lie –

Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by !

Credit: https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/

The Sussex Smuggler