I Wear My Old Coat Still

from Lincs to Land and Sea by Jan and Paul Ramsey

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about

A salutary tale as relevant now as it was in the 19th century. A refrain has been added.

lyrics

I went to town a country lad got up in country style
So far behind the age in dress I made the town folk smile
The urchins on the pavement cried why who’s your tailor Bill
And the saucy girls would laugh and say he wears that old coat still

He wears that old coat still, he wears that old coat still
The saucy girls would laugh and say, he wears that old coat still

My friends were poor no cash to spare and yet I felt distressed
To find they’d sent me to the town so ungenteely dressed
To be a Fright or a Country Guy I neither can nor will
So off to Snip and Coes I hie’d to risk a tailor’s bill

To risk a tailor’s bill, to risk a tailor’s bill
So off to Snip and Coes I hie’d to risk a tailor’s bill

My suit came home a splendid black, they called it superfine
But from that day for weary months no inward peace was mine
I could not pay the tailor dun’d vexation made me ill
And cruel shifts my parents made to pay the tailor’s bill

To pay the tailor’s bill to pay the tailor’s bill
And cruel shifts my parents made to pay the tailor’s bill

Our foreman was a noted swell, smart as a lord or prince
I wondered at his splendid ways I’ve solved the riddle since
To meet his tailor’s just demands he robbed the master’s till
He went to gaol I got his place and wore my old coat still

And wore my old coat still, and wore my old coat still
He went to gaol, I got his place and wore my old coat still

A lesson learned with so much grief could scarcely be forgot
I vowed I’d not be fashion’s slave what e’er my earthly lot
And safe once more on freedom’s shore when pressed to run a bill
I’d call to mind that stylish suit and wear my old coat still

And wear my old coat still, and wear my old coat still
I’d call to mind that stylish suit, and wear my old coat still
And wear my old coat still

credits

from Lincs to Land and Sea, released May 22, 2022
Winn/Ramsey

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about

Jan and Paul Ramsey image

Jan and Paul Ramsey Grimsby, UK

Jan and Paul first began singing together when they were students. Jan plays guitar and sings lead vocals, and Paul plays single reed harmonica and vocals. They are renowned for their close harmonies. Over the years they have performed extensively in the UK and overseas. They have held various residencies in UK folk clubs and are currently residents at Grimsby Folk Club. ... more

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