This is a variant on the song Barrack Street, sometimes Patrick Street, with words and music by Bob Bickerton. This is a New Zealander’s take on the old song tradition of a young man being deceived by a fair young woman. It’s performed in a reasonably well-known version from Andy Irvine.
The Close Shave
Come gather round you diggers all who work the goldfields rare
It’s of a trick was played on me and it’s caused me to despair
I came to town the other day me precious gold to trade
And there I met a pretty maid who did me heart betray
And her lips were red as roses and her eyes a deep sky blue
Her hair was yellow as the gold she stole from me and you
We went into a Public House and there we did imbibe
Whiskey and strong porter and dreadful stuff beside
‘T was then she asked me up to bed to which I did agree
But truth to tell I fell asleep before she’d earned her fee
Song of the Isles 