Radnage Cricket Song – Anon (c1720)

Possibly the earliest piece of cricket music, sometimes dated to the late Seventeenth-Century, but I think more likely early Eighteenth. Suggested to have originated in Buckinghamshire, but maybe not, as not very much cricket was played in that area at the time. The lyrics are brimming with double meanings.

Come all ye Jolly Cricketers
Whoever ye may be
I'll have ye pay attention 
And listen unto me
For to cricket we will go, we'll go
To cricket we will go

We'll go out on the Common boys
And there we'll choose our ground
But first we'll choose our Umpire 
And then we'll choose our men
For to cricket we will go, we'll go
To cricket we will go

Well played my pretty partner
Be sure to bat upright
And when she comes with a hop hop hop
We'll cut her out of sight
For to cricket we will go, we'll go
To cricket we will go

Well played my pretty partner
See how she tips the pail
And if we keep them to a length
I'm sure we shall not fail
For to cricket we will go, we'll go
To cricket we will go

Well thrown my pretty partner
See how she nips the wind
And when she goes wi the bowler
We'll all back up behind
For to cricket we will go, we'll go
To cricket we will go

And now the game is ended boys 
We'll merrily drink and sing
Good health unto out cricketers
And glory to our Queen
For to cricket we will go, we'll go
To cricket we will go

And now the game is ended boys 
And we have won the ball
The very next time we come this way
We'll give this house a call
For to cricket we will go, we'll go
To cricket we will go