John first heard The ‘Cornstalk' from the singing of Derek Elliott of Barnsley, Yorks. Also known as The Christmas Goose, this is a hunt-supper favorite, with a hunting chorus that bears no relation to the storyline which proceeds inexorably to its conclusion.
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It was at an inn in Manchester, 'The Cornstalk' was the sign
A famous public where commercials used to sleep and dine
One Christmas day a traveller, as oft had been his use
Arrived to spend his holiday and choose his Christmas goose:
All around the greenwoods so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn.
He drank his pint of sherry wine, he smoked his mild cigar
He chatted with the customers and people at the bar
There was no thought of wickedness had entered in his head
Until the chambermaid appeared to light him up to bed:
At length he grew so amorous, he squeezed her on the stair
He kissed her by the chamber door before he said his prayers
He gave to her a guinea to prevent her being vexed
And then he blew the candle out and you can guess the rest:
Next day this gay lothario discharged his little bill
He tipped the Boots and tossed the landlord for a parting gill
And where he went to afterwards it's not for me to say
Suffice he came to choose his goose again next Christmas Day:
He walked into the coffee room as jaunty as can be
Where lots of roosters like himself were waiting there for tea
He ordered up the very best the landlord could produce
He called the waiter back again, says, 'Now don't forget my goose':
Right speedily a tray was brought with eatables galore
All by that self-same chambermaid he'd kissed twelve months before
Nothing loth, he raised the cloth 'neath which the food was piled
But instead of eatables he found a big fat bumping child:
Annoyed by others' laughter, "Oh, what's this here?" said he
"Come sit you down beside me and I'll tell you, sir,"said she
"Last Christmas day you generous were, oh do not think it strange
You gave to me a guinea, sir, and I've brought you back your change":
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