Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Round-heads Race

Alexander Brome

“The Round-heads Race” as printed in Rump Songs (1662).

Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics Text 57 1662 · historical text
Public domainPolitical songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Rump Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

I Will not say for the Worlds store,

The World’s now drunk, (for did I)

The Faction which now reigns would roare,

But I will swear ’tis giddy.

Verse 2

And all are prone to this same Fit,

That it their Object make,

For every thing runs Round in it,

And no form else will take.

Verse 3

To the Round-Nose Peculiar is

The Ruby and the Rose;

The Round-lip gets away the Kisse,

And that by Favour goes.

Verse 4

The Round-beard for Talke of State,

Carry it at the Club;

The Round-Robin by a like fate

Is Victor in the Tubb.

Verse 5

Hanworths Round-block speak pollicy,

The Round-hose Riches draw.

The Round-heads for the Gospell bee

The Round Copes for the Law.

Verse 6

Tom his Round Garbe so rules all o’re,

The pox take him for mee

That e’re lookes for square dealing more,

And hears an health to thee.

Credits

Written by Alexander Brome

Words by Alexander Brome. Historical text published in Rump Songs (1662); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Rump Songs (1662), “The Round-heads Race”

This 1662 collection (Rump: or an Exact Collection of the Choycest Poems and Songs Relating to the Late Times, 1639-1661) is credited to Alexander Brome (died 1666); every contributor died more than 330 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide, and the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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