Thomas Hardy: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Sergeant's Song

Thomas Hardy

“The Sergeant's Song” as printed in Wessex Poems and Other Verses (1899).

Thomas Hardy: Collected Lyrics Text 38 1899 · historical text
Public domainSong lyricsWessex verse
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Wessex Poems and Other Verses, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

WHEN Lawyers strive to heal a breach,

And Parsons practise what they preach;

Then Little Boney he'll pounce down,

And march his men on London town!

Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum,

Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay!

When Justices hold equal scales,

And Rogues are only found in jails;

Verse 2

Then Little Boney he'll pounce down,

And march his men on London town!

Rollicum-rorum, etc.

When Rich Men find their wealth a curse,

And fill therewith the Poor Man's purse;

Then Little Boney he'll pounce down,

And march his men on London town!

Rollicum-rorum, etc.

When Husbands with their Wives agree,

And Maids won't wed from modesty:

Then Little Boney he'll pounce down,

And march his men on London town!

Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum,

Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lay!

1878.

Credits

Written by Thomas Hardy

Words by Thomas Hardy. Historical text published in Wessex Poems and Other Verses (1899); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Wessex Poems and Other Verses (1899), “The Sergeant's Song”

The 1899 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) died more than 96 years ago and his works entered the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions in 1999; entries credited to other hands are held unless their author died more than 70 years ago.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

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Retrieved 2026-10-27. 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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