Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Wilkes's Riggle

Traditional

“Wilkes's Riggle” as printed in Sons of the Tyne's Garland (1770).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 424 1770 · historical text
Public domainTyneside songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Sons of the Tyne's Garland, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Last Week I rambl'd to the Strand,

To have a roling shine O,

A Damsel then did sieze my Hand,

All dress'd so neat and fine O;

My Hand she press’d my Lips she kiss’d,

So cunningly did wheedle,

My Dear, said she, come go with me,

And I'll give you Wilkes's Riggle.

Verse 2

Then she took me up to the Ken,

And I called for a Bottle,

Her Mistress quickly brought it in,

I made the Glasses rattle,

I flash'd my clay and so Moll sly,

Did smile and tip the Giggle

I'm sure I can please any Man,

With Wilkes's pleasant Riggle.

Verse 3

My Girl and I then fell to work,

We rowl'd it both together

And at every move and every jerk

She call'd out Wilkes for ever:

See here's a Skin that's found within

You see I want no Doctor,

Then tipt the giggle with Wilkes's riggle

And hollowed out no Proctor.

Verse 4

Of all the riggles then said I,

I ne'er know such another,

My dear, said she, we'll come to it again,

As soon as you do recover:

With all my Heart I will not start,

Said I, I've no objection,

Then with each shove she cry'd my Love

Wilkes, and a free Election.

Verse 5

Then gently down she put one Hand,

The t'other o'er my Shoulders,

Now Liberty, he soon shall stand

And I'll back with him two Freeholders.

For I the County am you know

And you do well content me,

Therefore be true, for none but you,

Shall ever represent me.

Verse 6

There's many Riggles as I have heard,

Some people say there's twenty;

There's Moggy's Riggle, and Boots its true

Three Million Riggles is dainty,

But Wilkes's Riggle does beat them all

The motion is so clever,

For it makes your Eye squint with surprise

So Wilkes's Riggle for ever.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. Historical text published in Sons of the Tyne's Garland (1770); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Sons of the Tyne's Garland (1770), “Wilkes's Riggle”

Every contribution in this 1770 garland predates modern copyright terms; any contributor died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; 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 2026-10-27. 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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