Traditional
Ben the Coachman
[Verse 1]
Now Ben was a hackney coachman rare
Jarveys, Jarveys, Gerry Mac Arowner
And loudly he'd curse and loudly swear
Tommy roo, tommy roo
A handsome cabby he did drive
With his number a hundred and forty five
With me ran tan tivey, tiddley fal day
[Verse 2]
As Ben was driving out one day
Jarveys, Jarveys, Gerry Mac Arowner
A handsome gent came by his way
Tommy roo, tommy roo
'Come here me man for I would drive
With your number a hundred and fourty five'
With me ran tan tivey, tiddley fal day
[Verse 3]
Now he held a book in his left claw
Jarvеys, Jarveys, Gerry Mac Arowner
Just for to show that hе studied that law
Tommy roo, tommy roo
Although he appeared to be mighty civil
He knew damn well that he was The Devil
With me ran tan tivey, tiddley fal day
[Verse 4]
Says Ben to The Devil 'Now where would you go?'
Jarveys, Jarveys, Gerry Mac Arowner
As if the old fool he didn't to know
Tommy roo, tommy roo
The Devil thought he'd cut a swell
To see to Ben drive straight to Hell
With me ran tan tivey, tiddley fal day
[Verse 5]
So Ben jumped up and he drove pell-mell
Jarveys, Jarveys, Gerry Mac Arowner
Until he arrived at the gates of Hell
Tommy roo, tommy roo
And when he arrived at the gates of sin
He turned the wagon round and he backed The Devil in
With me ran tan tivey, tiddley fal day
[Verse 6]
Says The Devil to Ben 'Now what is your fare?'
Jarveys, Jarveys, Gerry Mac Arowner
'Why twenty guineas for driving you here'
Tommy roo, tommy roo
The Devil paid without a grin
For he thought he'd got aule Ben safely in
With me ran tan tivey, tiddley fal day
[Verse 7]
Says The Devil to Ben 'Your coach I'll burn'
Jarveys, Jarveys, Gerry Mac Arowner
When Ben jumped up fast to return
Tommy roo, tommy roo
'Me horse and car can go to pot
For they're insured and I am not'
With me ran tan tivey, tiddley fal day
[Verse 8]
So Ben jumped up and he drove home fast
Jarveys, Jarveys, Gerry Mac Arowner
Until he arrived safe home at last
Tommy roo, tommy roo
Now Ben doesn't curse and he has good luck
For for The Devil does he give a damn
With me ran tan tivey, tiddley fal day