There was an old man had a broken hat,
He had a crooked leg, an old tame cat,
An old lame horse that cropped along the hedge,
And an old song that set your teeth on edge,
With words like:
"Club night's come; it's time the dance begins.
Up go the lamps, we've all got nimble shins.
One night a year man and wife may dance at ease
And we'll dance all the village to its knees."
This silly old man had a broken heart;
He went a-peddling onions from his cart.
Once years ago, when Club night fell in June,
His new-wed wife went off with a dragoon,
Whilst he sang:
"Club night's come; it's time the dance begins.
Up go the lamps, we've all got nimble shins.
One night a year man and wife may dance at ease
And we'll dance all the village to its knees."
I am busy working to bring Ford Madox Hueffer's "Club Night" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Ford Madox Hueffer's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Club Night" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.