Social Commentaries
Toll, Loll de Roll
From Songs, Comic, and Satyrical (1772)
WHEN the Deity's word
Throughout Chaos was heard,
And in order up rose this vast ball;
Land, Sea, and Sky rung
With Creation's glad song,
It was then a fine—Toll, de roll, loll.
Inconstant mankind
Could not keep in one mind,
But into foul parties must fall;
'Gainst Religion and State
Rais'd a pother and prate,
And made a sad—Toll de roll, loll.
On this sea-circled land,
By great Nature's command,
Freedom stopp'd at Integrity's call;
England's Genius apppear'd,
In full chorus was heard,
Lov'd Liberty's song—Loll de roll.
On each distant shore
We have sung it encore,
And are ready, my lads, One and All,
To sound the same strain,
Tho' I think France and Spain
Have enough of our—Loll de roll, loll.
All the noise that our foes
Took such pains to compose,
Not a Heart of Oak's Ear could appal;
But the Dons and Mounseers
Were struck dumb with three cheers,
They're the English Tarr's Toll de roll, loll
At the place Minden nam'd,
By the British Foot fam'd,
How glorious those days to recall:
The French Folks advancing,
Were stopp'd in their dancing,
And tumbled about—Loll de roll.
For this thing, or that,
Toll de roll, comes in pat,
'Tis a Chorus I'll always extol;
'Tis suppos'd, not express'd,
'Tis what each one likes best,
Then here's to the best—Toll de roll, &c.
Codex Note
Song XVII. Tune: Let the Grave and the Gay.
Cite this poem
MLA
Stevens, George Alexander. “Toll, Loll de Roll.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/stevens_ga/17/.
Chicago
Stevens, George Alexander. “Toll, Loll de Roll.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/stevens_ga/17/.
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