Religion & morality

               Careless Billy

   Printedand Sold by J, Pitts, No. 14 GreatSt.
               Andrew Street Seven Dials.

YE frolickſome ſparks of the gawe, ye miſers both
wretched and old,
Come liſten to Billy by name, who once had his hatfull
And ſeven ſcore acres of land, and corn in plentiful ſtore
But now he has none at command, he is as good as before

CHORUS.

So why ſhould I covet for riches or any ſuch glittering
toys,             (the world my brave boys.
A light heart and a thin pair of breeches goes through

My father is cloathed in leather, my mother in ſheep's
ſkin grey, (lant and gay,
They labours in all ſorts of weather, that I may go gal-
With a beau in my hat and feather, a heart light as a
cork, (abroad with a fork,
What the old folks have rak'd up together. I ſpread it

The merchant that trades on the ſeas, for riches we very
well know,
His mind is ſeldom at eaſe, when the ſtormy winds do
blow, (news,
His happineſs can be but ſmall, for fear of some terrible
But he that has nothing at all, can never have nothing
to loſe.

Should they make me a juſtice of peace, officer, ſheriff
or mayor, (deſpair,
O then my cares will increaſe, and drive me quite into
I love to be jovial and free, and quite unconcern'd in
the ſtate,                                       (to great,
My mind is a kindom to me, there is danger in being

My fortune is pretty well ſpent, my land, my cattle my
corn,                             [born,
Yet I am as full of content, as ever I was ſince I was
I never will be troubled with wealth, my pockets are
(fellow am I
I go where I pleaſe for my health, and a hearty good

Some ſay old Care kill'd his cat, and ſtarv'd her for fear
ſhe ſhould die,                                 (take I,
But I am more wiſer than that, for the devil a care will
But to toſs off a jovial full bowl, to drive a way sorrow
and ſtrife,                               (care in their life
Here's a health to all true hearted ſouls, who never took