THE MOST INDUSTRIOUS COCKNEY
(Composed prior to 1971; from manuscript held by B. Burke)
Small blue engine, where ’you goin’
with your train of varnish brahn?
Small blue engine, puff ’n blowin …
Chug chugachug chugachug chuga chug chug …
Chug chugachug chugachug chuga chug chug
Ilford-Stratford-Romford-Wickford-
Chelmsford-Chingford-BuntingFOOOORD!
- and Enfield (Tahn)
Small blue engine, all together?
You’ll run out of steam and smoke!
Reach the end of tiny tether …!
Chug chugachug chugachug chuga chug chug …
Chug chugachug chugachug chuga chug chug
Beckton-Beckford-Loughton-Leyton-
High Street-Hoe Street-Wapping-Woodford
Ilford-Stratford-Romford-Wickford-
Chelmsford-Chingford-BuntingFOOOORD!
And Gospel Oak?
Yerss! (NODS ENTHUSIASTICALLY)
Aren’t you going to go to Ongar?
Wait a bit, I ain’t got wings!
… Ongar takes a little longer.
Chug chugachug chugachug chuga chug chug …
Chug chugachug. I’ve only got six little coupled
wiws …!
Then-Epping-Barking-Cheshunt-Chigwell –
Beckton-Beckford-Loughton-Leighton –
High Street-Hoe Street-Wapping-Woodford-
Ilford-Stratford-Romford-Wickford-
Chelmsford-Chingford-BuntingFOOOORD …?
AND Seven Kings!
Blue “Great Eastern” tank a-toiling
long ago up Stratford Bank
Oh, you’re pretty!
Oh, I’m boiling!
CHUG chugachug chugachug chuga chug chug
To Bow and Barking-Cheshunt-Chigwell-
Beckton-Beckford-Loughton-Leighton –
High Street-Hoe Street-Wapping-Woodford-
Ilford STRAT-ford ROM-ford WICK-ford
CHELMS-FORD CHING-FORD BUNTING-ford
SEVEN dials TOTTEN-ham Gotten ’em
gottenem gottenemgottenemgottenem Whoooo
WHOOO … Over! Lawd be thanked
Blue “Great Eastern” tank a-boiling
through the great Metropolis
Where’s a life of honest toiling?
CHUG chugachug chugachug chuga chug chug –
- BLISS!
