Andy Roberts

The Bath and West of England Show visited Cornwall in 1861. The Royal Cornwall Show was merged with it and the combined event held at Truro. This must have been a HUGE event and the song seems to have been written as a kind of way to get the news out and gather in the crowds. A Nineteenth century equivalent to the youtube viral video. The Truro Agericultural ShowGood people all who hear my voice, you now have reason to rejoice;For off to Truro you may go, to see the Agricultural Show;But don't go kissing the girls you know, at Truro Agericultural Show.A motley crew you will see there, fat farmers and their wives so rareTheir bounc'n daughters neat & clean, wi' a porkpie hat &a;crinolineSo don't go kissing the girls you know at Truro Agericultural Show.From Newlyn east and Saint Columb too, there's Humpback'd Jimand Carroty Joe; and a special train upon the rail,to bring all the thieves from Bodmin Gaol.So don't go kissing the girls you know at Truro Agericultural Show.They've got a band from Plymouth down, the best that ever was in the town; And all the gentry will be there -'tis most as pretty as Whitsun Fair!But don't go kissing the girls you know at Truro Agericultural Show.There's horses, ponies, cows and calves, for Truro don't do things by halves - there be Devon bulls, sheep, pigs, and geese;You can see it all for a shilling a piece!But don't go kissing the girls you know, at Truro Agericultural Show!There's things up there that'll make you laugh,there's a two-legg'd cow and a nine-legg'd calf;A billiy-goat that comes from Wales, with 16 eyes & 17 tails.So don't go kissing the girls you know, at Truro Agericultural Show!Now all around I hear you say, "we'll see that show this very day..So off we go, all in a row, to Truro Agericultural Show!"And don't go kissing the girls you know, at Truro Agericultural Show