Haben a Boo an' a Banner

If you sing this song and are willing to talk of where & when you learned it, please email me at or call me at 314-690-1414. Thanks!

Haben a Boo an' a Banner
Transcription & Notes by JL

Oh, my faither was hanged for sheep stealin'
My mither was brunt as a witch
Oh, my sister's a bawdy-hoose keeper
An' mysel, I'm a son o' a bitch
Wi' a haben a boo and a bannar
An' a haben a boo an a bay
Wi' ma haben a boo an a bannar
Misha toodle aye oodle aye a

Oh my grannie she farted a fyken [see below]
Will I ha' a feast or a fash
Oh my sister's come doon the stairs drapen [see below]
May the deil sen' a cork up her airse
Wi' a &c.

Fan I was a cobbler in London
And lived in the Royal Exchange
[Oh, I shaved my wifey's condition]??
[Then I entered her rosey behint]??

Fan I was a drapper in London
A lady came into my shop
O she asked me for three yairds of linen
And I gave her three yairds of my .
Wi' a &c

Fan I was a young man in London
And lived at the back of the Bucks [the Palace, maybe?]
Oh I earned five shillings every morning
To learn young ladies to .
Wi' a &c.

Fan I was a hedger and ditcher
An' up to my knees amang snaw
Oh the deil took a haud o' ma ballocks
And he swore he waud rug 'em awa'
Wi' a &c.

Notes: farted a fyken - I thought I'd seen that phrase before somewhere. I can't gloss that except the verb fyk/fyke/fike to figit/do meaningless work. "She farted while figiting around?" Not very good, really.

drapen - Legman gives for Jeannie's singing, "drettin'" - shitting

Lyrica Erotica
- Vol. 2: Arthur Argo - A Wee Thread O' Blue
  - Haben Aboo An A Banner Time: 1:24