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A rusty old barber in London did live,
And a rusty old shave for a penny he'd give,
With a rusty old razor all covered with rust,
And he always kept waiting for those who gave trust.
With me down-down, me-ladder-down dee.
Now it happened an Irishman chanced for to stray,
Who hadn't been shaved for manys a day;
He strode to the door and he said with a grin:
"Will you give me a shave, sir, and may I come in?"
With me down-down, me-ladder-down dee.
"No, no," says the barber, "I do not give trust."
"Well, fate then," says Paddy, "It's this time you must,
For the devil a penny have I got to pay,
Though I haven't been shaved for manys a day."
With me down-down, me-ladder-down dee.
"Come in," says the barber, "Sit down in me chair,
And I'll shave your old grizzly beard to a hair."
With the old rusty razor he then did begin,
And the tears big as praities rolled down Paddy's chin.
With me down-down, me-ladder-down dee.
"Holy murder!" shouted Paddy, "Now what are you doin'?
By the Holy St. Patrick, me jaws you will ruin;
I didn't come here to be shaved with a saw,
By the Hokey, you'll tear the gums out of me jaw,"
With me down-down, me-ladder-down dee.
Well, I'll always remember till I go to me grave,
To the hour of my death that old rusty shave;
You may talk about razors and shaves so slick,
But for my part I'd rather be shaved with a brick.
With me down-down, me-ladder-down dee.
Sung by Lars Pitcher of Merasheen, NL, and published for the 1980 Merasheen Reunion in Placentia Bay, NL, by Loyola Pomroy and Bill Wilson. A variant was also sung by Sylvester Whyte (1913-1986) of South East Bight, NL. A variant was recorded by Shanneyganock (The Long Haul, 1998 debut album).
