The Languid Swell 1885

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 10Mar2025
2025

I've always been a languid swell,
for 'tis the best style out.
The usedup air bespeaks the lord,
but the bustling style the lout;
I daily lounge by Rotten Row
with such a languid air,
that the pretty girls
with sweet surprise
ask, how did he get there?
Ah!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!

Some fellows on Velocipedes
go working with a will
but for my part I've no desire
to practise that tread drill;
such acrobatic feats may be
for some, extremely well,
but you'll never catch outside a shed
this very languid swell
Ah!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!

I'm told some fellows climb the Alps
to see a lot of ice,
but I take mine at Gunter's shop,
and I find it quite nice!
Then as for cricket, what's the fun
when balls come banging round,
and catch you plump upon the eye
and stretch you on the ground?
Ah!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!

I think I'd like to be in love
if women wouldn't gush,
but when a girl goes in for me
she does it with a rush;
she wants to drive,
she wants to walk,
she wants to go to Kew,
and keeps a fellow all the while
in a perfect state of stew.
Ah!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!

Thus always calmly jogging on
has been my golden rule,
It ain't your brilliant billiardist
that always takes the pool!
I let the world wag on full speed,
and people go pellmell,
but I'll bet, the last horse in the race
is not The Languid Swell,
Ah!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!
You see I'm never in a hurry
and I take life very cool,
for to race to a pace
that I do not find in rule,
tho' some are always in a flurry,
yet I think it quite as well,
to remain to the last
as the languid swell!

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
The Languid Swell 1885
by The Great Vance
© 1885 by Duff & Stewart  Oxford Street, London
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Monday 10 March 2025 at 12.51
in association with Torquil Syme
*
James Pitt-Payne