“Hard Up and Broken Down”
Description
"Once I had money plenty and friends too, by the score... But now I'm poor and lonely... No one seems to know me now because I'm broken down." He has wasted his fortune, and now his old friends ignore him
Notes
Randolph speculates that this is the "ruin of some English music-hall ditty." The literary reference ("As the immortal Shakespeare says, all this world's a stage" -- As You Like It, II.vii.139b) makes this a strong possibility. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime" (theme)
- cf. "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" (theme)
References
- Randolph 838, "Hard Up and Broken Down" (1 text)
- Roud #7446
- BI, R838