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