[Em]Oh, the Bansha[D] peeler went [Em]out one night on[G] duty and pa[D]trolling-o
He[Em] spied a[D] goat up[Em]on
the road and[G] took him[D] for a-[Em]strolling-o
With bayonet fixed, he sallied forth and he caught him by the wizen-o
And there swore out a mighty oath he'd send
him off to prison-o
Have mercy, sir, the goat replied and let me tell my story-o
I am no rogue, no ribbon man, no cocky, Whig, or Tory-o
I'm innocent of any crime, of petty or high treason-o
For my tribe is active at this time it is the mating season-o
"Do not complain," the peeler said but give your tongue a bridle-o
You're absent from your dwelling place, disorderly,
and idle-o
Your hoary locks will not prevail nor your sublime oration-o
For the penal laws will you transport on your own information-o
No penal laws have I transgressed by deed or combination-o
It's true I have no place of rest, no home, or habitation-o
But Bansha is my dwelling place where I was bread and borne-o
I'm of an honest working race that's all the trade I've
learned-o
I wager, sir, that you are drunk on whiskey, rum, and brandy-o
Or you wouldn't have such gallant spunk to be so bold
and manly-o
You readily would let me pass If I had money handy-o
I'd take you to the parting glass its then I'd be the dandy-o
