Oh, once I had a colour as red as a rose Now my colour has fade like the lily that do grow Now my colour has fade like the lily that do grow And if it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor So you take this yellow handkerchief in a remembrance of me And tie it round your neck, my love, in your flash company Flash company has been the ruin of me and the ruin of me quite If it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor Now it's singing and a dancing sure that is my delight Flash company being the ruin of me and the ruin of me quite Flash company being the ruin of me and a great many more If it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor Now you take a yellow handkerchief in a remembrance of me And tie it round your neck, my love, in a flash company Flash company has been the ruin of me and a great many more If it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor Now its all you little flash girls take a warning by me And never build your nest, my love, on the top of a tree For the green leaves they will wither and the roots they will decay And the beauty of a fair young maid that will soon fade away So you take this yellow handkerchief in a remembrance of me And tie that round your neck, my love, in your flash company Flash company's been the ruin of me and the ruin of me quite If it wasn't for flash company I should never been so poor