[Verse 1]
Once I had a colour as red as the rose
Now my colour has fade like the lily that grows
Oh, my colour has fade like the lily that grows
If it wasn't for flash company, I should never have been so poor

[Chorus]
So you take this yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me
And tie it 'round your neck, my love, in your flash company
Flash company's been the ruin of me and a great many more
If it wasn't for flash company, I should never have been so poor

[Verse 2]
Well it's singing and a-dancing, well it was my delight
Flash company's been the ruin of me, and the ruin of me quite
Flash company's been the ruin of me and a great many more
If it wasn't for flash company, I should never have been so poor

[Chorus]
So you take this yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me
And tie it 'round your neck, my love, in your flash company
Flash company's been the ruin of me and a great many more
If it wasn't for flash company, I should never have been so poor

[Verse 3]
Oh it's all you little flash girls, take a warning by me
And never build your nest, my love, on top of a tree
For the green leaves they will wither and the roots they will decay
And the beauty of a fair maid it will soon fade away
[Chorus]
So you take this yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me
And tie it 'round your neck, my love, in your flash company
Flash company's been the ruin of me and a great many more
If it wasn't for flash company, I should never have been so poor

So you take this yellow handkerchief in remembrance of me
And tie it 'round your neck, my love, in your flash company
Flash company's been the ruin of me and a great many more
If it wasn't for flash company, I should never have been so poor