Buy My Matches

Buy my matches, ye maids, I have matches for all, I've a match for the little, the lusty and tall, All my matches are pointed, my brimstone is good, And I know very well how to splinter my wood

There's the parson who matches the young and the old, Gives you brimstone enough when you're match'd to a scold, If your matches are made, as I fear they be, You've met with your match before you met me.

There's the doctor so nice, and the lawyer so wise, Are a match for you all, for none match them in lies; Beware of them both be they ever so civil, For a lawyer is only a match for the devil.

And now ye young men and ye pretty maids too When your matches you make beware you don't rae; Let your matches be pointed with honor and truth, And in age they'll retain what was kindled in youth

And now to sum up all the matches I've nam'd, May this land be for commerce and liberty fam'd, May her foes round the globe on her thunder be hurl'd, And America e'er prove a match for the world.