(This is written using the Cockney dialect, and this is the way it should be read, I have done my best to read it, but, if there are any Cockneys out there who think they can do better, please let me know. )
A muvver was barfin ‘er biby one night,
The youngest of ten and a tiny young mite,
The muvver was poor and the biby was thin,
Only a skelington covered in skin;
The muvver turned rahnd for the soap off the rack,
She was but a moment, but when she turned back,
The biby was gorn; and in anguish she cried,
Oh, where is my biby?’ – and the angels replied:
Your biby ‘as fell dahn the plug-‘ole,
Your biby ‘as gorn dahn the plug;
The poor little thing was so skinny and thin
E oughtern been barfed in a jug;
Your biby is perfeckly ‘appy,
E won’t need a barf any more,
Your biby ‘as fell dahn the plug ‘ole
Not lorst……. but gorn on before!
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In “Proper English” the poem would read:-
Your baby has fallen down the plug hole
A mother was bathing her baby one night.
The youngest of ten and a tiny young mite,
The mother was poor and the biby was thin,
Only a skeleton covered in skin;
The mother turned round for the soap off the rack,
She was but a moment, but when she turned back,
The baby was gone; and in anguish she cried,
Oh, where is my baby?’ – and the angels replied:
Your baby has fallen down the plug-hole,
Your baby has gone down the plug;
The poor little thing was so skinny and thin
He ought to have been bathed in a jug;
Your baby is perfectly happy,
He won’t need a bath any more,
Your baby has fallen down the plug hole,
Not lost……. but gone on before!