Cicely Fox Smith

The Old Love and the New

To the leaderless party 'twas Bannerman spoke:
"If our sails be not trimmed, there are seats to be broke:
Let us haste, ere too late, our old courses to rue;
It's off with the old love, and on with the new!"

Chorus:

They've done with Oom Paul, they've done with the Boer,
They swallow the words they have spoken before;
Now show them full plainly, you good men and true,
They're off with the old love — not on with the new.

Remember their hopes to give England a fall,
Their Boer Committees, their letters to Paul:
Remember the ends they so loved to pursue,
Ere they fled from the old love to plead with the new.

Chorus: They've done with Oom Paul, etc

His hope to the end, they must topple with Paul,
Their Monds and their Brunners, their Lawtons and all;
They reap as they sowed — and for all they can do,
They're off with the old love, not on with the new.

Chorus: They've done with Oom Paul, etc

So show them your meaning, you good men and true,
Your hearts are true British, your colours True Blue;
When the polling day comes, oh, what will they do,
If they're off with the old love — not on with the new?