Peelhead


DESCRIPTION: Peelhead owns the saw mill. "All the kind o' logs they got Was small rough saplin' pine." Hope for better times: "not like it was last summer When you said they'd be good times, And some o' your men you owe six months, And more you do owe nine"
AUTHOR: William McKay "of the Millstream" (Manny/Wilson)
EARLIEST DATE: 1948 (Manny/Wilson)
KEYWORDS: lumbering hardtimes humorous moniker boss horse
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Manny/Wilson 37, "Peelhead" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST MaWi037 (Partial)
Roud #9208
NOTES: Manny/Wilson: "The song ... is a typical woods satire about a lumber operator, Isaac Anderson, nick-named 'Peelhead,' who flourished in the 1880's. There is a mention for everyone in the woods crew, including the horses, and the usual fling at the employer. Actually the reproaches in the last verse were not very serious complaints in the 1880's, when so much of the lumber business was done on credit." - BS
File: MaWi037

Peep Squirrel


DESCRIPTION: Singing game: "Peep squirrel, yang-dan-diddle-um (or other nonsense, e.g. Hop squirrel, eedle-dum-dum)" (x2 or x4). Similarly, "Run, squirrel...." "Catch the old squirrel...." "I give you fifty cents...."
AUTHOR: Squirrel
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (Scarborough)
KEYWORDS: animal hunting playparty
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Chappell-FSRA 119, "Peep Squirrel" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
Scarborough-NegroFS, pp. 134-136, "Hop, Old Squirrel" (2 texts, the second with interspersed game instructions, 1 tune)
ST ChFRA119 (Partial)
Roud #7645
NOTES: Roud lumps this with "Hunt the Squirrel" and similar items -- superficially reasonable, since they're both singing games about squirrels. But they don't have any lyrics in common.
Even I decided ot merge "Hop, Old Squirrel" with "Peep, Squirrel"; the forms are very different, but it appears that lyrics cross so much; my guess is that it's one song with two differen games. - RBW
File: ChFRA119

Peer Peter My Neeper


See Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater (File: GrD81896)

Peg an' Awl


DESCRIPTION: "In the days of eighteen and one, Peg an' awl... Peggin' shoes was all I done, Hand me down my pegs, my pegs, my pegs, my awl." The singer describes his work(/play?), then tells how "They've invented a new machine.... Makes a hundred pairs to my one."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1928 (recording, Carolina Tar Heels)
KEYWORDS: work technology unemployment worker
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Lomax-FSNA 144, "Peg an' Awl" (1 text, 1 tune)
Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 40 "Peg and Awl" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, p. 363, "Peg and Awl" (1 text)
DT, PEGNAWL*
Roud #4619
RECORDINGS:
Carolina Tar Heels, "Peg and Awl" (Victor V-40007A, 1928; on AAFM1)
Kelly Harrell, "Peg and Awl" (OKeh 40544, 1925; on KHarrell01)
Lawrence Older, "Peg and Awl" (on LOlder01)
Pete Seeger, "Peg and Awl" (on PeteSeeger13)
Hobart Smith, "Peg an' Awl" (on LomaxCD1702)
Clarence Ashley & Doc Watson, "Peg and Awl" (on WatsonAshley01)
NOTES: The notes in Lomax imply that this is a bawdy song. I suppose it's possible, but I think this is a confusion with "The Long Peggin' Awl." - RBW
File: LoF144

Peg and Awl


See Peg an' Awl (File: LoF144)

Peggie


See Lescraigie (File: Ord285)

Pegging Awl, The


See Long Peggin' Awl, The (File: RL280)

Peggy and the Soldier


See The Gallant Soldier (Mary/Peggy and the Soldier) (File: HHH782)

Peggy and the Soldier (The Lame Soldier) [Laws P13]


DESCRIPTION: Peggy leaves her husband and child to go with a soldier who offers her gold and a high life. The two soon quarrel; the soldier beats her and sends her back to her husband. She arrives home and begs her husband to take her back; he rejects her
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1675 (broadside, Bodleian Douce Ballads 2(208a))
KEYWORDS: infidelity separation soldier rejection family
FOUND IN: US(MW) Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Laws P13, "Peggy and the Soldier (The Lame Soldier)"
GreigDuncan6 1129, "The Old Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune)
BBI, ZN1517, "It was a brave souldier that long liv'd in Wars"
DT 497, LAMESLDR* LAMESLD2
Roud #907
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Douce Ballads 2(208a), "The Souldier and Peggy" ("It was a brave souldier that long liv'd at wars"), F. Coles (London), 1663-1674; also Harding B 39(151), Douce Ballads 2(209b), "The Souldier and Peggy"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Rosie Anderson" (plot)
cf. "The Brewer Laddie" (plot)
NOTES: In the Bodleian broadsides and GreigDuncan6, at least, Peggy's husband takes her back. - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: LP13

Peggy Bawn


DESCRIPTION: An Irishman stops at a Scots farmer's house and courts daughter Jane. The farmer offers his daughter in marriage, money, and land. The singer thinks of Peggy and excuses himself: he must be off on the king's business. He will always be true to Peggy
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1788 (William Shield's opera "Marion," according to OLochlainn-More)
KEYWORDS: infidelity sex rejection separation Ireland Scotland father courting money
FOUND IN: Ireland Britain(England(Lond))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
OLochlainn-More 5, "Peggy Bawn" (1 text, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: Charles Gavan Duffy, editor, The Ballad Poetry of Ireland (1845), pp. 134-135, "Peggy Bawn"
Roud #661
RECORDINGS:
Walter Pardon, "Peggy Benn" (on Voice01)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 25(1481)[many illegible words], "Peggy Band," D. Wrighton? (Birmingham)[hand-written note on broadside], 1810-1820; also Harding B 28(149), Firth b.25(391), Harding B 20(131), Harding B 11(2699), Harding B 11(2700), Harding B 11(2982), Firth c.18(244), 2806 c.17(329), 2806 b.11(232), "Peggy Band"; Harding B 25(1480), "Peggy Bann"
NOTES: OLochlainn-More: "Once very popular in Northern Ireland and among the Irish in Scotland.
Duffy (1845): "The existence of this ballad is traceable for a century -- it is probably much older. It bears strong evidence of having been written in Ulster, where it holds its ground with undiminished popularity to this day."
I have to admit to some confusion. It seems clear that Jane and Peggy are not the same person but some broadside lines make it seem otherwise: "With hat in hand I came away, And parted with each one, And especially the pretty girl Who was tired of lying alone. With hat in hand I came away, But in my mind it ran, That blithe and merry were the days I had with Peggy Band." The counter argument, from broadside Bodleian Harding B 25(1481), "Peggy Band's Answer," D. Wrighton? (Birmingham), 1810-1820 has Peggy relating that her Jemmy, "a SCOTISH Lady did adore, And offerred him her Hand, But he slighted all her Proffers For his dear PEGGY BAND." - BS
File: OLcM005

Peggy Gordon


DESCRIPTION: "Oh Peggy Gordon, you are my darling, Come sit you down upon my knee, And tell to me the very reason Why I am slighted so by thee." Spurned, the singer wishes he were far away, or drinking, or doing something to ease the pain of separation
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1916 (Cox)
KEYWORDS: love separation rejection
FOUND IN: US(Ap) Canada(Mar,Newf) Britain(England)
REFERENCES (7 citations):
Gilbert, p. 127, [No title] (1 fragmentary text)
Abrahams/Foss, p. 164, (no title) (1 tune, partial text, probably this song)
JHCox 141, "Youth and Folly" (1 text, with many floating verses but such plot as it has derived from this song); 142, "Maggie Goddon" (1 text)
Creighton/Senior, pp. 194-195, "Peggy Gordon" (1 text plus 1 fragment, 1 tune)
Creighton-Maritime, pp. 74-75, "Peggy Gordon" (1 text, 1 tune)
Peacock, pp. 475-476, "Love is Lovely" (1 text, 1 tune, strongly composite, starting with a verse perhaps from "Peggy Gordon," then the chorus of "Waly Waly (The Water Is Wide)," two more which might be anything, and a conclusion from "Carrickfergus")
DT, PEGGORDN*
Roud #2280
RECORDINGS:
Grace Clergy, "Peggy Gordon" (on MRHCreighton)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Fair and Tender Ladies" (floating lyrics)
cf. "O'Reilly from the County Leitrim" (lyrics in common with the "Youth and Folly" texts)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Maggie Gordon
File: Gil127

Peggy Howatt


DESCRIPTION: Howatt, a barkeep, is shot and killed by "a brave engineer." When St. Peter declines to admit Howatt, the late bartender replies with obscenity and scorn.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE:
KEYWORDS: bawdy murder Hell
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Randolph-Legman I, pp. 468-470, "Peggy Howatt" (2 texts, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Casey Jones (I)" [Laws G1] (tune)
NOTES: Jim "Peggy" [from his wooden leg] Howatt sold liquor in Joplin, Mo., Picher, Okla., and Pittsburg, Kansas, until his death from tainted moonshine about 1924.
Annotator Legman posits this topical satire, sung to a set of the melody of "Casey Jones," was written by the composer of that ballad, Wallace Saunders. - EC
File: RL468

Peggy in the Mornin'


See Peggy in the Morning (File: Ord110)

Peggy in the Morning


DESCRIPTION: "Noo, mither, confess, a' the lasses ye saw... And wasna my Peggy the flooer o' them a'?" The mother says the girl is lazy and sleeps late. The lad says her father has promised a fine dowry. The mother admits, "Your Peggy's better noo."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1894 (Murison collection, according to Lyle, _Fairies and Folk_)
KEYWORDS: love courting money dowry
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Greig #37, p. 1, "Peggy in the Mornin'" (1 text)
GreigDuncan5 1002, "Peggy in the Morning" (9 texts, 5 tunes)
Ord, p. 110, "Peggy in the Morning" (1 text)
Roud #5541
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Billy Grimes the Rover" (plot)
cf. "Will Ray" (plot)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Jacky's Choice
NOTES: Sort of a Scottish version of "Billy Grimes the Rover," with the sexes reversed. - RBW
In the GreigDuncan5 versions Johnnie and Peggy marry and, in 1002B, "he's Peggy until his airms And made her the mither o' three bonny bairns." - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: Ord110

Peggy o' Greenlaw


DESCRIPTION: "I am a bold, undaunted youth, George Hewitt is my name... And there I had a sweetheart... My Peggy o' Greenlaw." But bad company pulls him away; he falls in love with another, marries her in haste, quickly becomes disillusioned, and regrets losing Peggy
AUTHOR: Alexander Shaw
EARLIEST DATE: 1930 (Ord)
KEYWORDS: love courting abandonment betrayal marriage
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ord, p. 143, "Peggy o' Greenlaw" (1 text)
Roud #3949
File: Ord143

Peggy of the Moor


DESCRIPTION: "Come all you sporting young men and listen unto me, Come all you loyal lovers that live in unity...." The singer was one of many fascinated by Peggy of the Moor. A bold shoemaker will be successful with her. The singer wishes success to lovers
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1938 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: love courting beauty drink
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
SHenry H761, pp. 228-229, "Peggy of the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #7979
NOTES: It is not at all clear from the Henry text whether the singer is the "bold shoemaker" whose attention to Peggy will make all other lover's attentions "useless." - RBW
File: HHH761

Peggy on the Banks o' Spey


DESCRIPTION: The singer is enthralled by "Peggy on the banks o' Spey" bleaching her clothes. He thinks "she fain wad be my dearie." He imagines some night that he would "wed her frae her daddy O I'll kiss her ower and ower again And row her in my plaidie O"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (GreigDuncan6)
KEYWORDS: sex nonballad father clothes
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan6 1131, "Peggy on the Banks o' Spey" (1 text)
Roud #6846
File: GrD61131

Peggy Walker


See The Girl I Left Behind [Laws P1A/B] (File: LP01)

Peggy-O


See Bonnie Lass of Fyvie, The (Pretty Peggy-O) (File: SBoA020)

Peistie Glen, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer wanders by Peistie Glen and "imbibes meditation" urging him to "write measured words eulogizing" the place. He recalls the history of the place. Now the ship calls him away; he bids farewell to his home
AUTHOR: Frances Heaney ?
EARLIEST DATE: 1936 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: home emigration nonballad
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
SHenry H654, pp. 170-171, "The Peistie Glen" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #9685
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Cailin Deas" (tune)
NOTES: Yes, the first verse is as bad as the quoted excerpts imply. The rest is a little better, but only a little. - RBW
File: HHH654

Pelton Lonnin'


See Felton Lonnin (Pelton Lonnin') (I, II, III) (File: StoR150)

Penny Fair, The


DESCRIPTION: The Penny Fair drifts from the wharf. The crew are wakened and scramble to tie her up. Jack Lushman, on the ferry, not only sleeps through the hubbub but sleeps while the ferry runs aground. Everyone has a good laugh.
AUTHOR: Blanche Pink
EARLIEST DATE: 1977 (Lehr/Best)
KEYWORDS: sea ship ordeal
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Lehr/Best 86, "The Penny Fair" (1 text, 1 tune)
File: LeBe086

Penny Wager, The


DESCRIPTION: A traveller with one penny in his pocket stakes his purse in a pub wager. He wins; when he asks the landlord's wife what he owes, she tells him to give her a kiss and go. (He rejoices that he has won the wager; otherwise he'd have had to sell his horse)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1845 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(3387))
KEYWORDS: wager travel gambling money landlord
FOUND IN: Britain(England) Australia
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Kennedy 280, "The Penny Wager" (1 text, 1 tune)
MacSeegTrav 115, "The Penny Wager" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #393
RECORDINGS:
George Dunn, "My Little Grey Horse" (on Voice13)
Levi Smith, "One Penny" (on Voice11)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(3387), "Adventures of a Penny" ("Long time I've travelled the north country"), J. Pitts (London), 1819-1844; also Harding B 16(2b), "The Adventures of a Penny"
ALTERNATE TITLES:
One Penny
Adventures of a Penny
File: McCST115

Pennyworth o' Preens, A


See The Keys of Canterbury (File: R354)

Pere Marquette 18, The


DESCRIPTION: "Out through the piers at Ludington one dark September day, The Pere Marquette 18 steamed proudly on her way. Her captain, Peter Kilty, looked on his ship with pride," but the mate announces the ship is sinking. They call for help, but 28 drown
AUTHOR: Frank McCauley
EARLIEST DATE: 1932 (collected from Manus J. Bonner, brother-in-law of the Pere Marquette 18's captain, by Walton)
KEYWORDS: ship disaster death drowning technology
FOUND IN: US(MW0
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Walton/Grimm/Murdock, pp. 177-179, "The Pere Marquette 18" (1 text)
NOTES: Although this wreck is historical, there seems to be some uncertainty about the facts. I checked four sources: Walton/Grimm/Murdock, Berman, Shelak, Thompson.
Berman's brief comment, p. 259, says merely that the Pere Marquette 18, 2090 tons, built 1902, foundered September 9, 1910, near Sheboygan, with the loss of 27 lives.
Walton/Grimm/Murdock agrees with the tonnage and the date of sinking; it says that "more than two dozen" lives were lost, including Captain Peter Kilty. The ship foundered some twenty miles from Sheboygan. The remaining crew members were saved by the Pere Marquette 17, a sister ship.
The most detailed accounts are in Shelak and Thompson. Shelak, pp. 144-147, describes her as 338 feet long, with a beam of 56 feet and a draft of 20, and lists her as 2909 tons (it will be seen that this and Berman's figures are easy typographic variants of each other). The ship was a car ferry; there were reportedly 29 railroad cars aboard. The ship had been recently inspected, and the weather on her final voyage, though stormy, was not really extreme. Reportedly there were 62 passengers and crew, and two stowaways, aboard.
The voyage was a "routine cruise" from Ludington to Milwaukee. Shelak seems to say that the voyage began in the early morning of September 8, but gives no date for the actual sinking (though he claims the fatal leak was discovered around 3:00 a.m.)
When water started coming in, the first mate made an inspection and concluded it was "nothing more than a damaged deadlight or porthole cover." But the pumps could not handle the flooding. Not even pushing out nine of the loaded railroad cars could keep the ship afloat. Finally a distress call went out. The Pere Marquette 17 responded, but the 18 went down just before rescue operations could begin. Pere Marquette 6 and Pere Marquette 20 also arrived eventually. 33 passengers and crew were saved, but all officers were lost, and two crew from the Pere Marquette 17 died in the rescue attempts.
The cause of the disaster was never determined, but a likely culprit is the rear deck area where the railroad cars were loaded.
Thompson, p. 285, says "On September 9, 1911, the Pere Marquette Railroad's Pere Marquette 18 got caught out on the lake in a severe storm and began taking on water through a number of portholes that were smashed out by the pounding seas. When the pumps couldn't keep up with the incoming water and the stern of the ship continued to settle deeper in the seas, the captain had the radio operator send out a message in Morse code asking for help.
"The distress call was heard by the Pere Marquette 17, which arrived on the scene just as the flooded ferry sank.... [C]rewmembers from the Pere Marquette 17 managed to pull thirty-two people from the stormy waters. Twenty-seven others went down with the ship or drowned before rescuers could get to them."
Thompson has another account of the sinking, on page 27, which ways that "many lives" were lost in the sinking, but 35 were saved. This passage gives the date as September 9, 1910, as in all the other sources. It seems clear that this is the correct date, but apparently the number killed and the number saved is slightly uncertain.
Thompson also notes that this was the first rescue on the Lakes made possible by radio. (There had already been one on the high seas.) Radios were still optional equipment on boats, but the Pere Marquette railroad company had voluntarily installed radios on their ship, and in this case it paid off handsomely. - RBW
BibliographyLast updated in version 2.5
File: WGM177

Peri Meri Dixie Dominie


See I Gave My Love a Cherry
 (File: R123)

Perigoo's Horse


DESCRIPTION: Lawyer Walter Perigoo visits Whalen's Inn and puts his horse in the stable. Local boys (led by Whalen's son?) cut off the horse's tail and paint it red, white, and blue. Perigoo eventually finds the disguised animal and threatens retribution
AUTHOR: George or John Calhoun?
EARLIEST DATE: 1971
KEYWORDS: horse trick lawyer humorous disguise
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Doerflinger, pp. 266-268, "Perigoo's Horse" (1 text)
Roud #4165
NOTES: This song is item dH48 in Laws's Appendix II. - RBW
File: Doe266b

Perrie, Merrie, Dixi, Domini


See I Gave My Love a Cherry
 (File: R123)

Persia's Crew, The


See The Persian's Crew [Laws D4] (File: LD04)

Persian's Crew, The [Laws D4]


DESCRIPTION: The Persian sets out [from Chicago] and disappears on Lake Huron. Since nothing is known of the wreck, the singer can only wonder at and lament the fate of the lost crew. The mate, Daniel Sullivan, may be specially praised
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1877 (published as a poem in the Buffalo Express, according to Walton/Grimm/Murdock; the first traditional version appears to have been Dean's)
KEYWORDS: ship storm death
FOUND IN: US(MW) Canada(Ont)
REFERENCES (8 citations):
Laws D4, "The Persian's Crew"
Colcord, pp. 203-204, "The Persia's Crew" (1 text, 1 tune)
Rickaby 46, "The Persian's Crew" (1 text plus a fragment, 2 tunes)
Dean, pp. 29-30, "The Persian's Crew" (1 text)
Walton/Grimm/Murdock, pp. 191-194, "Lake Huron's Rockbound Shore (The Ill-Fated Persian)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Beck 86, "Lake Huron's Rock-Bound Shore" (1 text)
DT 677, PERSIACR
ADDITIONAL: _Sing Out_ magazine, Volume 33, #1 (1987), pp, 46-47, "Persia's Crew" (1 text, 1 tune, apparently the Sidney Baby version)
Roud #2230
RECORDINGS:
Stanley Baby, "The 'Persian's Crew" (on GreatLakes1)
John W. Green, "The Ill-Gated Persian" (1959; on WaltonSailors -- not the same as the text in Walton/Grimm/Murdock; it sounds as if two recordings have been combined due to Green's memory troubles)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Maggie Hunter" (subject, tune)
NOTES: According to Beck, possibly composed by the daughter of Dan Sullivan, the Persian's first mate. - PJS
I suspect something rather more complicated, given the handful of melodies for this piece. Laws lists four melodies, two in Rickaby and one in Colcord. Rickaby's first, from Dean, is approximately "Tramps and Hawkers." His second, from Art C. Milloy, has a somewhat similar shape but but is mixolydian and not necessarily related. And Colcord has yet another tune with similar shape but distinct tonal differences.
Perhaps some of the variations are due to the fact that so little is known about what actually happened, which might have inspired rewrites. According to William Ratigan, Great Lakes Shipwrecks & Survivals, revised edition, Eerdmans, 1977, p. 98, "the schooner Persia went down with all hands" in November 1869 (a memorable storm which also destroyed the Volunteer and other ships), and inspired a song" (presumably this).
And yet, Bruce D. Berman's Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks, Mariner's Press, 1972, p. 257, does not even list the Persia as a Great Lakes shipwreck. He does note the screw steamer Persian (note the presence of the n at the end; the ship wrecked in 1869 was Persia, not Persian). The Persian burned near Long Point, Ontario, in August 1875. Long Point is in Lake Erie, not Lake Huron, but might it have contributed to some confusion?
Norm Cohen's research (which I would imagine exceeds that of all the others listed here) says that the song was by Patrick Fennell, and that the ships involved were the Persian and the E. B. Allen. He wrote an article on the subject for the December 1969 New York Folklore Quarterly
Walton/Grimm/Murdock generally agrees with Cohen, saying that there was a "persistent rumor" that the Allen had had a collision, possibly with the Persian (the name it uses) in 1869. The crew of eight, including captain and owner John Long, came from Oswego, New York. According to them, Patrick Fennell wrote the poem under the pen name Shandy Maguire, but later published it under his own name. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: LD04

Perthshire Pensioner, The


See references under The Forfar Soldier (File: FVS163)

Pesky Sarpent, The


See Springfield Mountain [Laws G16] (File: LG16)

Pete Knight


DESCRIPTION: "Pete Knight was a rider of horses, The best that I ever did see, But often a life in the saddle Is not what it's cracked up to be." "Ten thousand fans saw him carried Away from the field and the horse."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1973
KEYWORDS: cowboy horse injury death
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1937 - Death of Pete Knight
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ohrlin-HBT 31, "Pete Knight" (1 fragmentary text, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Pete Knight, The King of the Cowboys"
cf. "Pete Knight's Last Ride"
NOTES: Pete Knight was born in Philadelphia, but lived for some years in Alberta, and seems to have been at least as famous in Canada as in the U.S.
Knight was one of the all-time horse-riding champions, and won top honors in 1932, 1933, 1935, and 1936. In 1937, however, he fell and was trampled by the horse "Duster," (not "Slow-Down," as the horse was called by Wilf Carter) and died of a punctured lung. - RBW
File: Ohr031

Pete Knight, the King of the Cowboys


DESCRIPTION: "List a while to my story 'Bout a lad from the wide open plain Who has won a great name the world over, Pete Knight of rodeo fame." Knight's success as a rider is detailed; the song ends with his marriage
AUTHOR: Wilf Carter (1937)
EARLIEST DATE: 1937
KEYWORDS: cowboy horse marriage
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1937 - Death of Pete Knight
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ohrlin-HBT 32, "Pete Knight, the King of the Cowboys" (1 text)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Pete Knight"
cf. "Pete Knight's Last Ride"
NOTES: For the history of Pete Knight, see "Pete Knight." - RBW
File: Ohr32

Pete Knight's Last Ride


DESCRIPTION: The singer reports "My whole life's full of heartaches and sighs... For I've just lost a pal, like a brother to me...." Expert rider Pete Knight falls and dies; the singer hopes to meet him "on that heavenly range"
AUTHOR: Wilf Carter
EARLIEST DATE: 1939
KEYWORDS: cowboy horse injury death
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1937 - Death of Pete Knight
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Phrlin-HBT 33, "Pete Knight's Last Ride" (1 text)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Pete Knight"
cf. "Pete Knight, The King of the Cowboys"
NOTES: For the history of Pete Knight, see "Pete Knight." - RBW
File: Ohr033

Peter Ambelay


See Peter Amberley [Laws C27] (File: LC27)

Peter Amberley [Laws C27]


DESCRIPTION: Peter Amberly leaves Prince Edward Island to go lumbering in New Brunswick. Fatally injured in a logging accident, he bids farewell to the father whose unkindness sent him away, to his mother, sweetheart, and home
AUTHOR: John Calhoun (sometimes attributed to Larry Gorman)
EARLIEST DATE: 1903
KEYWORDS: logger death farewell father
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
around Jan. 1881 - Peter Amberly is fatally wounded. He is eighteen years old, and has been in the woods less than a year
FOUND IN: US(MA,NE) Canada(Mar,Newf,Ont)
REFERENCES (21 citations):
Laws C27, "Peter Amberley"
Doerflinger, pp. 225-233, "Peter Emberley" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
Gray, pp. 63-69, "Peter Ambelay" (3 texts)
Greenleaf/Mansfield 164, "Peter Hembly" (1 text)
Fowke/Johnston, pp. 80-81, "Peter Amberley" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fowke/MacMillan 27, "Peter Emberley" (1 text, 1 tune)
Creighton-NovaScotia 138, "Peter Rambelay" (1 text, 1 tune)
Creighton-SNewBrunswick 118, "Peter Emberley" (1 text, 1 tune)
Mackenzie 116, "Peter Ambelay" (1 text)
Dibblee/Dibblee, p. 33, "Peter Emberley" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ives-DullCare, pp. 235-236,252-253, "Peter Emberly" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ives-NewBrunswick, pp. 99-103, "Peter Emberley" (1 text, 1 tune)
Manny/Wilson 38, "Peter Emberley" (1 text, 1 tune)
FSCatskills 5, "Adieu to Prince Edward's Isle" (1 text, 1 tune)
Linscott, pp. 269-272, "Peter Emily" (1 text, 1 tune)
Scott-BoA, pp. 270-273, "Peter Emberly" (1 text, 1 tune)
Beck 9, "Peter Ambelay" (1 text)
Fowke-Lumbering #36, "Peter Emery" (2 texts, 1 tune)
BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 258-264, "Mary Hamilton" (the "C" fragment actually comes from a text of this song rather than a version of "Mary Hamilton")
Darling-NAS, pp. 181-182, "Peter Emberly" (1 text)
DT 608, PTRMBRLY* PTRMBRL2
Roud #668
RECORDINGS:
Omar Blondahl, "Peter Amberly" (on NFOBlondahl04)
Marie Hare, "Peter Emberley" (on MRMHare01)
Wilmot McDonald, "Peter Emberley" (on Miramichi1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Farmer and the Shanty Boy" (tune)
cf. "The Farmer's Boy" [Laws Q30] (tune)
cf. "John Ladner" (plot)
NOTES: Details about this song are sketchy. The name of the youth was probably spelled "Amberley" but was generally pronounced "Emberly." (Paul Stamler points out that Louise Manny records the spelling "Amberley" on his tombstone, but it is not contemporary).
The original tune has also been lost; when John Calhoun asked Abraham Munn to set a tune, Munn also added a stanza, and Calhoun withdrew the modified text from circulation.
According to his tombstone Amberley was born in 1863. He died some time after Christmas Day, 1880. - RBW
Manny/Wilson has a detailed account of the accident and burial, the spelling and pronunciation of the name, and the replacement of the original grave marker with a monument. Warning: "A legend has grown up about the song -- that it is unlucky to sing it in the woods. If it is sung the night before a drive, the woodsmen say, someone is sure to be killed." - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: LC27

Peter and I Went Down the Lane


DESCRIPTION: "Peter and I went down the lane, down the lane (x2), Peter and I went down the lane, And sister came behind." Both sisters love Peter. "Sister was bending over the well When splash, splash in she fell." The survivor marries Peter; he abandons her
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1931 (Gardner/Chickering)
KEYWORDS: love courting death murder betrayal sister
FOUND IN: US(MW)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Gardner/Chickering 2, "The Two Sisters" (2 texts, 2 tunes, but the "A" text is "Child #10, but the "B" text is this) {B=Bronson's #97}
Roud #8
NOTES: Gardner and Chickering file this as a version of "The Twa Sisters," and certainly it appears to be the same plot. But the tune approximates "London Bridge," and the story is simplified. While it's probably built upon "The Twa Sisters," I'd call it a separate song. - RBW
File: C010A

Peter and Lizzie


DESCRIPTION: Peter Davidson is a poor miller. He and Lizzie are in love. Lizzie is to be married to a rich man. Peter dresses neatly and attends the wedding with ten men. The bridegroom had thirty, or fifty, but Lizzie leaves with Peter.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1911 (GreigDuncan5)
KEYWORDS: courting elopement wedding
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Greig #174, p. 2, "Peter and Lizzie"; Greig #177, p. 32, "Peter and Lizzie" (1 text plus 4 fragments)
GreigDuncan5 1031, "Peter and Lizzie" (2 texts)
Roud #6290
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Peter Davidson
File: GrD51031

Peter Clarke


DESCRIPTION: Peter Clarke and Jimmy Clarke are stopped by a robber. Peter refuses to be robbed; rather than give up his valuables, he attacks the outlaw barehanded. The robber shoots Clarke, but Clarke has a hand on his throat. Clarke dies, but the robber is taken
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1960
KEYWORDS: outlaw fight death Australia
FOUND IN: Australia
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Meredith/Anderson, pp. 100-102, "Bold Peter Clarke" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, PETECLRK
RECORDINGS:
John Greenway, "Peter Clarke" (on JGreenway01)
NOTES: The facts about this case are a bit uncertain. Folklore does not give a name to the bushranger (unusual indeed in Australia!), and claims that Peter and Jimmy Clarke were unrelated.
John Greenway, however, reports that the two were brothers, and (along with their brother Acton and some others) were overtaken near Warland's Range by twenty-year-old Harry Wilson. (The time was April, 1864.) Wilson shot several members of the party, but could not release himself from Peter Clarke's dying grip. Wilson was tried and hung on October 4, 1864. - RBW
File: MA100

Peter Coutt's Canis


DESCRIPTION: "Peter Coutts had seven bairns Nether sheet nor plaid upo' them, Ilka ane took up a neuk An' hauled on the canis o' them, Haul on, trail on, Peter Coutts's canis"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1916 (GreigDuncan8)
KEYWORDS: farming harvest family clothes
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan8 1884, "Peter Coutt's Canis" (1 text)
Roud #13570
NOTES: The current description is all of the GreigDuncan8 fragment.
GreigDuncan8: "Canis as you must know was the canvas on which the winnowing was done." - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: GrD81884

Peter Emberly


See Peter Amberley [Laws C27] (File: LC27)

Peter Emery


See Peter Amberley [Laws C27] (File: LC27)

Peter Emily


See Peter Amberley [Laws C27] (File: LC27)

Peter Fishing


DESCRIPTION: Peter catches a fish, which urges, "Take me home, Peter (x3), oh mah ding." Peter takes it hom; the fish says, "Kill me now." Then, "Clean me now," "Salt me now," "Cook me now," "Eat me now," "I got you now!" (and Peter vanishes)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1934 (Henry, from Mrs. Walter Scott Jr.)
KEYWORDS: fishing food devil
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
MHenry-Appalachians, pp. 221-222, "Peter Fishing" (1 text)
NOTES: Henry's informant said that Peter was punished by the Devil for fishing on a Sunday. I'd be inclined to say that listening to a dead fish wasn't too smart, either. - RBW
File: MKAp221

Peter Gray


DESCRIPTION: Peter Gray, of Pennsylvania, loves Lucy Annie Pearl. Her father sends her west; he considers suicide, but instead goes west himself and is scalped by Indians. She takes to her bed and dies. Chorus: "Blow ye winds of morning, blow ye winds heigh-o."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1860 (Dime Song Book #2)
KEYWORDS: courting separation father Indians(Am.) death humorous
FOUND IN: US Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
DSB2, p. 45, "Peter Gray" (1 text)
GreigDuncan8 1897, "Peter Gray" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 240, "Peter Gray" (1 text)
ST FSWB240C (Full)
Roud #4307
RECORDINGS:
Pete Seeger, "Johnny Gray" (on PeteSeeger07, PeteSeeger07a)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Blow Ye Winds in the Morning" (chorus lyrics, tune)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Johnny Gray
NOTES: Yes, I said humorous [in the keywords]; this is a reworking of a classic ballad plot unto the absurd. - PJS
And the versions I've heard sung are performed with great bathos, just to make sure we get the point. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.5
File: FSWB240C

Peter Hembly


See Peter Amberley [Laws C27] (File: LC27)

Peter Murphy's Little Dog


DESCRIPTION: This teasing song involves Murphy giving his girl friend a dog that wants to poke its nose into the woman's privates.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE:
KEYWORDS: bawdy dog humorous
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Randolph-Legman I, pp. 214-215, "Peter Murphy's Little Dog" (1 text, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Teasing Songs" (specifically "Suzanne Was a Lady," "The Ship's in the Harbor," "There Once Was a Farmer," "Two Irishmen, Two Irishmen")
NOTES: As is common with teasing songs, this is a fragmentary ballad at best, each verse ricocheting off the previous into a new direction. - EC
File: RL214

Peter Pullin' Blues


DESCRIPTION: "Papa caught me in the loft, I'd just finished jackin' off." The father orders the boy to cease. He takes the boy, whose only other sexual experience is with a cow, to a whorehouse, where he proves highly interested but unable to perform
AUTHOR: attributed to Tex Fletcher by Jack Steele
EARLIEST DATE: 1989 (Logsdon)
KEYWORDS: bawdy whore warning animal sex
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Logsdon 60, pp. 271-274, "Peter Pullin' Blues" (1 text)
Roud #10110
NOTES: Despite the title, this is clearly not a blues, either in form or in content. And I couldn't bring myself to tag it "humorous," either. It's too crude; a slightly lighter touch would have been much more amusing. - RBW
File: Logs060

Peter Rambelay


See Peter Amberley [Laws C27] (File: LC27)

Peter Street


See The Shirt and the Apron [Laws K42] (File: LK42)

Peter Wheeler


DESCRIPTION: Peter Wheeler comes to "this foreign shore, He lived close by little Annie's door" in Nova Scotia. He asks Anne to marry and she refuses again. He clubs her and cuts her throat. He is convicted, gives us good advice and bids us "a last good-night"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1960 (Creighton-SNewBrunswick)
KEYWORDS: courting rejection execution murder trial gallows-confessions
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1895 - Anne Kempton murdered by Peter Wheeler at Bear River, Digby County (source: Mackenzie; Creighton says 1896)
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Creighton-SNewBrunswick 91, "Peter Wheeler" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST CrSNB091 (Partial)
Roud #2770
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Bear River Murder" (subject: the same murder) and references there
File: CrSNB091

Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater


DESCRIPTION: Peter, a neeper [neighbor], pumpkin-eater, chimney sweeper, ... 'Had a wife and couldn't keep her." He put her away [in a wall, pumpkin shell] and mice eat her, or he treats her well. Or, didn't love her until he taught her to read and write.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1797 (_Infant Institutes, part the first_, according to Opie-Oxford2)
KEYWORDS: nonballad nonsense husband wife food
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
GreigDuncan8 1896, "Peer Peter My Neeper" (1 text)
Opie-Oxford2 405, "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater" (3 texts)
Roud #13497
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Heeper, peeper, Chimney-sweeper
NOTES: There must be countless parodies like this one: "Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater, Had a wife and couldn't keep her, Took an axe and smashed her bike, So she had to stay at home at night" (source: Edmond Redmond, Lyra Cyclus or The Bards and the Bicycle, (Rochester, 1897 ("Digitized by Google")), p. 90). - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: GrD81896

Peter's Banks


DESCRIPTION: William Strickland and Goddard take the Lily out on Peter's Banks on May 21. They are lost in wind and fog for six days without food or water and Goddard dies. A fishing skiff from Ramea rescues Strickland.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1959 (Peacock)
KEYWORDS: rescue death fishing sea ship
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
May 24, 1897 - Albert Goddard is lost on the Lily (source: Newfoundland Schoonermen -- Victims of their Trade per Robert C Parsons NF Shipwrecks on the WEB site)
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Peacock, pp. 969-970, "Peter's Banks" (1 text, 1 tune)
NOTES: Peacock notes, "Peter's Banks is a fishing area off the south coast of Newfoundland near the French island of St Pierre. Ramea is an island port also off the south coast." - BS
File: Pea969

Peterhead


DESCRIPTION: "A busy town was Peterhead ... In the days of long ago": lasses worked at looms, whaling ships sailed to Greenland, "fishermen went out to sea," "drifters were unknown." "Peterhead will flourish still As in the days of long ago"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1908 (GreigDuncan3)
KEYWORDS: commerce fishing weaving nonballad whaler
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan3 515, "Peterhead" (1 text)
Roud #5999
NOTES: GreigDuncan3 has a map on p. xxxv, of "places mentioned in songs in volume 3" showing the song number as well as place name; Peterhead (515) is at coordinate (h4-5,v1) on that map [on the coast, roughly 28 miles NNE of Aberdeen] - BS
Peterhead was for a time famous as the place where the Old Pretender landed in 1715. As the song indicates, it was a leading whaling port. But first the arctic whales were hunted to near-extinction, and then the fish populations crashed. Peterhead was never to recover its prosperity (although I gather North Sea oil has helped somewhat). - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD3515

Petie Cam' ower the Glen


See Patie's Wadding (Petie's Wedding) (File: HHH200)

Petit Couturier, La (The Little Dressmaker)


DESCRIPTION: French. A dressmaker goes to an inn; there are two lovely women there. He makes love with the smaller one; the larger offers the dressmaker 100 sovereigns to sleep with her. He declines, for honor's sake. She throws him out of the inn.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1855 (BNP MSS)
LONG DESCRIPTION: French. A dressmaker goes to an inn; there are two lovely women there. He makes love with the smaller one; the larger, however, is searching for a husband, and offers the dressmaker 100 sovereigns to sleep with her. He declines, for the sake of his own honor and the smaller woman's. The larger woman throws him out of the inn. On the street, his knees begin to tremble; he says that if he were back at peace, he'd never refuse a damsel, but they have tricked him too much
KEYWORDS: jealousy courting sex rejection request foreignlanguage lover worker
FOUND IN: France Canada
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Kennedy 113, "Le Petit Couturier [The Little Dressmaker]" (1 text, 1 tune)
File: K113

Petit Moine, Le (The Little Monk)


DESCRIPTION: French. The little monk finds a dairy-maid crying because she has trouble milking her cows. She offers a kiss if he does the job. The cow kicks over the pail, then kicks the monk into a ditch. The monk vows he'll never again help anyone milk a cow
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1959 (recording, Allan Kelly)
KEYWORDS: farming foreignlanguage humorous animal clergy
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar)
RECORDINGS:
Allan Kelly, "Le Petit Moine (The Little Monk)" (on Miramichi1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Deacon's Calf" (plot)
File: RcLPetMo

Petit Rocher


DESCRIPTION: Canadian French: The trapper, wandering in the forest, fears for his family's safety. He returns home, and arranges for his family's flight from marauding Indians. He remains and is mortally wounded. He prays for comfort in death
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1865 (Gagnon)
KEYWORDS: Quebec family death separation Indians(Am.) foreignlanguage
FOUND IN: Canada(Que,West) US(MW)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
BerryVin, p. 24, "P'tit rocher, de la haute montagne (Little Rock Atop the Mountain Crest" (1 text + translation, 1 tune)
Fowke/Mills/Blume, pp. 34-35, "Petit Rocher" (1 text, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: Grace Lee Nute, _The Voyageur_, Appleton, 1931 (reprinted 1987 Minnesota Historical Society), pp. 148-149, "Petit Rocher" (1 text plus English translation, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Haunted Wood" (plot)
NOTES: This is said to be "the first Canadian song about a Canadian incident."
The song is supposedly based on the legend of the trapper Cadieux. In 1709 he went trapping along the Ottawa River. Returning to his camp and his family, he saw a band of Indians threatening the camp. He put his family in the canoe and stayed behind to slow
the attackers.
When his body was found, it lay in a grave he had dug with his own hands, and with his story written on birchbark with his own blood.
We must regretfully report that little if any verifiable evidence exists for this story. - RBW
BerryVin gives the Cadieux story, but also mentions that one Frank Louvier, an elderly and "well-known folk singer of the region" around Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, stated that local legend placed the events on which the song was based in that community, founded by the French in the 1730s. No evidence beyond the assertion, unfortunately. - PJS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: FMB034

Petite Navire, La


See Little Boy Billee (Le Petite Navire, The Little Corvette) (File: K114)

Petticoat Lane (I)


See The Elfin Knight [Child 2] (File: C002)

Petticoat Lane (II)


DESCRIPTION: A man from the country comes to town. His friend shows him the sights of Petticoat Lane. He is beaten at every turn and his pockets picked clean. The police charge him with killing a policeman. His policeman brother Darby gets him off. He goes home
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1855 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(2996))
KEYWORDS: travel violence murder theft reprieve brother police crime brother
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
O'Conor, pp. 18-19, "Petticoat Lane" (1 text)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(2996), "Petticoat Lane" ("To London I came from the sweet county Down"), E.M.A. Hodges (London), 1846-1854; also 2806 b.11(167), Firth b.25(393), "Petticoat Lane"
File: OCon018A

Petty Harbour Bait Skiff


DESCRIPTION: A bait skiff sails from Petty Harbour to Conception Bay in the spring and encounters a storm on their return in the summer. A rescue party is dispatched, but only a young fisherman named Menshon is saved.
AUTHOR: John Grace
EARLIEST DATE: 1852
KEYWORDS: wreck ship disaster rescue
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Fowke/MacMillan 13, "The Petty Harbour Bait Skiff" (1 text, 1 tune)
Doyle2, pp. 48-49, "Petty Harbour Bait Skiff" (1 text, 1 tune)
Doyle3, pp. 46-47, "Petty Harbour Bait Skiff" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lehr/Best 87, "The Petty Harbour Bait Skiff" (1 text, 1 tune)
Blondahl, pp. 99-101, "The Petty Harbour Bait Skiff" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, BAITSKIF*
Roud #4410
NOTES: Doyle mentions that he received the song from someone who was still alive when the book was compiled and remembered the events fully. However, the recording, "Another Time: Songs of Newfoundland," notes that John Grace wrote the song in 1852, which was almost ninety years before Doyle published it. - SH
File: Doy48

Pewter Tailor, The


DESCRIPTION: The tailor, apparently needing money, enlists with Hugh Fraser. The captain warned him that he could not be a soldier if he is not sober. Someone tells the tailor's mother and his sister buys off the tailor.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1908 (GreigDuncan1)
KEYWORDS: army recruiting money humorous mother sister
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan1 76, "The Pewter Tailor" (1 text)
Roud #5795
NOTES: I am too dense for this humor. The chorus is "O for lead and tin, Pewter, tin and siller; O for twenty pun, To buy the pewter tailor." First, I assume "pun" stands for "pundis" or "pounds" (source: "Glossary" at Wedderburn pages site). Pewter is a silvery alloy of tin, copper and lead. Pewter was used in counterfeit British coins in 18th century (source: "Counterfeit British Coppers" at The Coins of Colonial and Early America site). Is any of this relevant?
GreigDuncan1: "There may possibly be a connection with the Hugh Fraser who was captain in the 78th (Highland) Regiment c. 1780" - BS
My speculation about the tailor being "pewter" has to do with the use of pewter as fake silver -- used for dinnerware, or (as noted) for counterfeit coin. The pewter tailor is an imitation soldier.
There is also the point that pewter eventually poisoned its users as the lead leached out. But the composer of the song would probably be less aware of that than of the use of pewter by those who couldn't afford silver. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD1076

Phadrig Crohour


DESCRIPTION: "Phadrig Crohour was a broth of a boy, and he stood six foot eight" with strong arms; "...with one blow he stretched bold O'Hanlan for ever."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (GreigDuncan8)
KEYWORDS: violence death
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan8 1748, "Phadrig Crohour" (1 fragment)
Roud #13132
NOTES: Although this sounds like a song about a murder, I suspect it is actually about boxing. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.5
File: GrD1748

Pharaoh's Army


See Sinful Army (File: MHAp199)

Phelimy Phil


See Ballinderry (File: HHH080)

Phil the Fluther's Ball


DESCRIPTION: "Have you heard of Phil the Fluther, of the town of Ballymuch? The times were going hard with him, in fact the man was broke." So he holds a party, passing the hat, promising that the more he takes in, the better the music will be
AUTHOR: Percy French
EARLIEST DATE: before 1920 (French died in that year)
KEYWORDS: music hardtimes humorous
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
DT, PHILFLUT
ADDITIONAL: _Sing Out_ magazine, Volume 32, #4 (1987), pp, 22-23, "Phil the Fluther's Ball" (1 text, 1 tune)
NOTES: In addition to a transcription of this song, there was an interesting article about Percy French, who was an Irish-born engineer and entertainer, in Sing Out magazine, Volume 32, #4 (1987), pp, 18-20, It quotes extensively from James N. Healy, Percy French and His Songs, 1966, a book which I have not seen.
Apparently this song was based on the story of a real person. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: DTphilfl

Philadelphia Lawyer, The


DESCRIPTION: "Way out in Reno, Nevada," the Philadelphia lawyer courts a "Hollywood maid." He tries to convince her to come back to Philadelphia with him. But her husband Bill, discovering them, kills the lawyer
AUTHOR: Words: Woody Guthrie (tune: The Jealous Lover)
EARLIEST DATE: 1937 (composed)
KEYWORDS: murder lawyer courting derivative cowboy infidelity
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Greenway-AFP, pp. 283-284, "The Philadelphia Lawyer" (1 text)
DT, PHILALAW*
Roud #500
RECORDINGS:
Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston, "Philadelphia Lawyer" (on OrigVis, CowFolkCD1)
Maddox Bros. & Rose, "Philadelphia Lawyer" (on Four Star 1289, 1949)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Reno Blues
NOTES: In one of the strangest lumps I've seen, Roud classifies this with the "Florella" family [Laws F1]. That, of course, provided some inspiration, but the actual text is pure Woody Guthrie. - RBW
File: Grnw283

Philosophical Cowboy, The


See Root, Hog, or Die! (III -- The Bull-Whacker) (File: LoF171)

Phoebe


See Bright Phoebe (File: FSC070)

Phoenix of Erin's Green Isle, The


See O'Reilly from the County Leitrim (File: HHH580)

Phoenix Park Tragedy, The


DESCRIPTION: Burke and Cavendish are murdered in Dublin's Phoenix Park. The Lord Mayor and Irish MPs -- Davitt, Parnell, Dillon, Sexton -- condemn the assassins. "[L]et us hope and pray to the Lord each night and day, That no Irishman for this crime will be blamed"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE:
KEYWORDS: murder Ireland political
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Chronology of the Phoenix Park murders (source: primarily Zimmermann, pp. 62, 63, 281-286.)
May 6, 1882 - Chief Secretary Lord Frederick Cavendish and the Under Secretary Thomas Henry Burke are murdered by a group calling themselves "The Invincible Society."
January 1883 - twenty seven men are arrested.
James Carey, one of the leaders in the murders, turns Queen's evidence.
Six men are condemned to death, four are executed (Joseph Brady is hanged May 14, 1883; Daniel Curley is hanged on May 18, 1883), others are "sentenced to penal servitude," and Carey is freed and goes to South Africa.
July 29, 1883 - Patrick O'Donnell kills Carey on board the "Melrose Castle" sailing from Cape Town to Durban.
Dec 1883 - Patrick O'Donnell is convicted of the murder of James Carey and executed in London (per Leach-Labrador)
FOUND IN:
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 26(362), "Lines on the Phoenix Park Tragedy" ("Pay attention young and old to these lines"), unknown, n.d.
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Condemned Men for the Phoenix Park Murders" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "The Execution of Michael Fagan" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "Joe Brady and Dan Curley" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "The Men Awaiting Trial for the Murders in Phoenix Park" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "The Murder of the Double-Dyed Informer James Carey" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "O'Donnell and Carey" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "O'Donnell the Avenger" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "Pat O'Donnell" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "Skin the Goat's Curse on Carey" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "Dan Curley" (subject: the Phoenix Park murders)
cf. "The Bold Tenant Farmer" (subject: Charles Stewart Parnell) and references there
cf. "Carey's Disguise" (possible subject of James Carey)
NOTES: Zimmermann p. 62: "The Phoenix Park murders and their judicial sequels struck the popular imagination and were a gold-mine for ballad-writers: some thirty songs were issued on this subject, which was the last great cause to be so extensively commented upon in broadside ballads." - BS
The Phoenix Park murders were, in the end, very costly for Ireland; at the very least, they destroyed her influence in the English parliament, and arguably cost them Home Rule and eventually resulted in the Civil War.
Though it doesn't seem to have bothered the more vigorous Irish nationalists, we should note that the Phoenix Park murders were incredibly brutal; Kee, p. 87, says that Cavendish and the Catholic Irishman Burke were "hacked to death by twelve-inch long surgical knives."
Lyons, p. 176, says that on May 6, 1882, "A new Chief Secretary, Lord Frederick Cavendish, arrived in Dublin to replace W. E. Forster who had resigned in protest at the Kilmainham 'Treaty' [under which British Prime Minister Gladstone freed Charles Stewart Parnell and gave concessions in return for political help]. Later on the evening of his arrival Cavendish and his undersecretary, T. H. Burke, were set upon by a band of assassins while they were walking in the Phoenix Park in Dublin and stabbed to death. The murderers belonged to a secret society, the Invincibles."
Sadly, the murders forced Gladstone's hands at a time when he was trying to improve Ireland's condition. It was not just the English who were upset; Charles Stewart Parnell -- who dominated Irish politics and held the balance of power in the English parliament. offered to resign his leadership of the Irish party (Golway, p. 175).
Parnell, for the moment, stayed on. But Gladstone still had to be seen to do something -- that something being coercion. (Any scruples he may have had were probably lessened by the fact that Cavendish was Gladstone's nephew by marriage.) And when Gladstone finally managed to propose a limited Home Rule bill in 1886, it failed and Gladstone's government fell (Golway, p. 180).
We might add that Parnell himself was largely responsible for the sequel: His party fell apart not over Phoenix Park but his own adulterous affair (Fry/Fry, 259-260). Gladstone tried again for Home Rule in 1893; it was rejected in the Lords, and Gladstone sort of faded away. So did Home Rule.
And while Zimmermann is clearly right that this terrorist act caught the attention of the broadside press, it's worth noting that very little of this outpouring of venom seems to have made it into oral tradition. [One song that has been found in Newfoundland and the Canadian Maritimes as well as Ireland is "Pat O'Donnell" which tells only of the assassination of Brady at the very end of the story. - BS]
It did have its effects, though. According to Townshend, p. 6, the murder was carried out by "[t]he nearest thing to a home-grown terrorist group to appear in Ireland [prior to the twentieth century]... the shadowy Irish National Invincibles.... This ephemeral group carried out only one operation. All the same, that single operations... had a tremendous psychological impact. Together with the Manchester Martyrs, the Invincibles' drama became an enduring spur to later generations."
Coogan, pp. 12-13, gives another take, showing how the horrid events influenced a future Irish leader: "In the year [Eamon] de Valera was born, the desperation... led to some of the most horrific murders in Irish history. There were some sixty agrarian or politics-related killings in the first eight months of the year alone. Amongst these were the knifing to death on 6 May 1882, the day he arrived in Ireland, of the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Lord Frederick Cavendish, and of his Under Secretary, T. H. Burke...
"Some would argue that reaction in Britain to the deaths aborted progress to Home Rule for Ireland and so paved the way for revolution, partition and today's Provision IRA. Certainly, Parnell was so shattered by the assassinations that for a while he seriously contemplated resignation. Then, in August, there occurred the Maamtrasna murders in Co. Mayo: The Joyce family were slaughtered in a clay-floored hovel shared by humans and animals." Four people were killed, and two boys were mutilated and left for dead. "The neighbours, out of superstition and ignorance, left the boys in agony without doing anything to help them. One child died, and subsequently three men -- one of them innocent -- were hanged for the crime...."
Maamtrasna and the related events became the talk of Ireland, obviously adding to the tensions there.
For more on Parnell, see "We Won't Let Our Leader Run Down."
The Phoenix Park murders apparently inspired several books; the two most recent (both of them controversial, based on the reviews) appear to be T. H. Corfe, The Phoenix Park Murders, 1968; and Senan Molony, The Phoenix Park Murders: Conspiracy, Betrayal & Retribution, Mercier Press, 2006. - RBW
BibliographyLast updated in version 2.5
File: BrdPhoeP

Phyllis and her Mother


DESCRIPTION: Phyllis hides in the woods. Her mother finds her asleep. The daughter drowsily says, "Damon, dear, how long you take." The mother, enraged, tells Phyllis she must go to a convent; Phyllis demurs: "And if love is wrong, said she/Tell me how I came to be."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1915 (recording [in German], Paul Reimers)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Waiting for her shepherd lover, Phyllis hides in the woods. Her mother looks for her and, finding her asleep, kisses her supposedly-innocent daughter. The daughter drowsily says, "Damon, dear, how long you take." The mother, enraged, tells Phyllis she must go to a convent; Phyllis demurs: "And if love is wrong, said she/Tell me how I came to be."
KEYWORDS: courting sex foreignlanguage mother
FOUND IN:
RECORDINGS:
Paul Reimers, "Phyllis und die Mutter" (Victor 45062, 1915)
NOTES: The song is probably best-known, in an English translation, from the repertoire of revival singer Richard Dyer-Bennet. However, the 78 by Paul Reimers is evidence that the song circulated in German during the 20th century. Reimers seems to have been an American (or at least a resident), recording for Victor in New Jersey, and most of his recordings are of English-language popular music. Dyer-Bennet notes an anonymous publication of the song in Germany in 1799, but without further data I'm reluctant to list that as earliest date. - PJS
It seems pretty clear to me that it's an art song rather than of true folk origin (at least in the Dyer-Bennet form), but I'm in the same quandry as Paul: I can't do much to trace the history. - RBW
File: RcPhudM

Phyllis and Young William


See William and Phillis (File: CrSNB033)

Picayune Butler, Is She Coming to Town


DESCRIPTION: Minstrel song, with chorus "Picayune Butler, Picayune Butler, Is she coming to town?" In traditional forms, the lyrics float, e.g. the terrapin and the toad, "My ole missus promised me When she died she'd set me free."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (Scarborough)
KEYWORDS: floatingverses slave animal travel
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Scarborough-NegroFS, pp. 164-165, (no title) (1 text)
File: ScaNF164

Pick a Bale a Cotton


See Pick a Bale of Cotton (File: LxU068)

Pick a Bale of Cotton


DESCRIPTION: "You got to jump down, turn around, Pick a bale of cotton...." A list of various people who can, alone or in combination, pick a bale of cotton a day. (In the more serious versions, the singer disclaims any ability to do such a thing.)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1933 (recording, James "Iron Head" Baker & group)
KEYWORDS: work nonballad farming bragging
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (7 citations):
Scott-BoA, pp. 393-304, "Pick a Bale o' Cotton" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSUSA 68, "Pick a Bale of Cotton" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 231-233, "Pick a Bale o' Cotton" (1 text, 1 tune)
Jackson-DeadMan, pp. 99-101, "Pick a Bale a Cotton" (2 texts, 1 tune)
PSeeger-AFB, p. 54, "Pick A Bale Of Cotton" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 123, "Pick A Bale Of Cotton" (1 text)
DT, PICKBALE*
Roud #10061
RECORDINGS:
James "Iron Head" Baker & group, "Pick a Bale o' Cotton" (AFS 195 A1, 1933; on LC53)
James "Iron Head" Baker, "Pick a Bale o' Coton" (AFS 721 B3, 1936) (AFS 3523 A3, 3523 B3, c. 1940)
Folkmasters, "Pick a Bale of Cotton" (on Fmst01)
Mose "Clear Rock" Platt, "Pick a Bale o' Cotton" (AFS 2643 A2, 1939)
Pete Seeger & Sonny Terry, "Pick a Bale of Cotton" (on SeegerTerry)
Pete Seeger, "Pick a Bale o' Cotton" (on PeteSeeger43)
NOTES: Picking a bale of cotton in a single day is, for one picker, an almost superhuman task. - PJS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: LxU068

Pickaxe Too Heavy


DESCRIPTION: "Oh, dis pickaxe am too heavy, Dis pickaxe am too heavy, Dis pickaxe am too heavy To heavy for my strength."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (Scarborough)
KEYWORDS: work
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 216, (no title) (1 fragment)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Take This Hammer" (theme)
NOTES: This is obviously reminiscent of "Nine Pound Hammer/Take This Hammer" and the like. But the song applies to a different occupation, so -- for lack of additional words -- I split them. - RBW
File: ScNF216A

Picket Line Blues, The


DESCRIPTION: "Com all my friends if you want to know And I'll tell you about the C.I.O.... I'll tell you about the Ashland Strike." The workers picket, and some are arrested; the singer says he will not be discouraged, even though "I've got them picket line blues"
AUTHOR: Bunyan Day
EARLIEST DATE: 1939 (Thomas)
KEYWORDS: strike labor-movement police trial lawyer
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Thomas-Makin', pp. 238-239, "The Picket Line Blues" (1 text)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Ashland Strike" (subject)
NOTES: 1937 is listed by Thomas as the date of the strike mentioned in this song. This is supported by internal evidence: The song mentions the Wagner Act (National Labor Relations Act), which legally protected collective bargaining; it was passed in 1935 and declared constitutional by the Supreme Court in 1937.
John L. Lewis (the "John L." of the song) originally served as president of the United Mine Workers, then came into the AFL as chief of the Committee for Industrial Organizations. This group proved too radical for the AFL, and so was expelled in 1937, whereupon Lewis remade it as the Congress of Industrial Organizations. - RBW
File: ThBa128

Picket-Guard, The


See All Quiet Along the Potomac (File: RJ19002)

Pickin' Out Cotton


DESCRIPTION: "Hello, my little girl, which away, which away... Mammy sent me pickin' out cotton." The girl and the singer converse about the state of the cotton and where she is going; the girl (?) concludes by asking for a chew of tobacco
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1922 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: work drugs farming
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
BrownIII 212, "Pickin' Out Cotton" (1 text plus an excerpt)
File: Br3212

Picking Lilies


See Waly Waly (The Water is Wide) (File: K149)

Pickle My Bones in Alcohol


DESCRIPTION: A dying request, with the verse, "When I die don't bury me at all... Just pickle my bones in alcohol" (or, sometimes, corn pone). The rest of the song varies widely, usually with other requests for the burial; it may also have blues floating verses
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1952 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: drink burial floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(SE) West Indies
REFERENCES (1 citation):
BrownIII 38, "Pickle My Bones in Alcohol" (1 relatively full text, 3 fragments plus mention of 2 more)
Roud #727
RECORDINGS:
Edith Perrin, "When I Die" [fragment] (on USWarnerColl01)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Hard Times in the Mill (I)" (floating lyrics)
NOTES: This piece is one of those Big Problems, because the key verse ("When I die don't bury me at all") floats, and also has a variable ending. We do the best we can with it.
Edith Perrin's West Indian version is so distinct that I thought about calling it a separate song:
Mama, when I die
Don't you bury me at all
Just cure my bone and body in alcohol.
Two bottles of beer,
One at my head and one at my feet,
Then to show the world
That my bones can cure,
My bones can cure.
I suspect that this may have mixed in part of another song -- just possibly, in fact, a religious song, since the Bible tells, e.g., of the curative power of Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:21). But we really need more text to prove it.
File: Br3038

Picnic at Gros Haut, The


See The Picnic at Groshaut (File: Dib014)

Picnic at Groshaut, The


DESCRIPTION: The ladies prepare the picnic "upon the teagrounds at Gros Haut" but it rains until noon. "If it wasn't a success, 'twas a frolic nonetheless" The picnic is rescheduled for the next day with cider-drinking, dancing, and "scuffles" meanwhile.
AUTHOR: Lawrence Doyle
EARLIEST DATE: 1968 (Ives-DullCare)
KEYWORDS: fight dancing drink music party
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Dibblee/Dibblee, pp. 14-15, "The Picnic at Gros Haut" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ives-DullCare, pp. 178-179,253, "The Picnic at Groshaut" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #12483
RECORDINGS:
Arthur Cahill, "The Picnic at Groshaut" (on MREIves01)
NOTES: Groshaut is in the northeast corner of Kings, Prince Edward Island - BS
File: Dib014

Picnic, A


DESCRIPTION: "What's any better than a picnic? The victuals all on the ground, Flies in the buttermilk, bugs in the butter, And the skeeters humming around. Goin' down, children, Goin' down, I say, Goin' down, children, to have a holiday."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1923 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: food nonballad
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
BrownIII 191, "A Picnic" (1 text)
Roud #15772
File: Br3191

Picture from Life's Other Side, A


DESCRIPTION: "In the world's mighty gallery of pictures Hang scenes that are faded from life...." The song describes the pictures from life's other side: A gambler staking his mother's ring, a thief killing his brother for gold, a starving woman leaping off a bridge
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1896 (sheet music)
KEYWORDS: poverty hardtimes robbery suicide gambling death
FOUND IN: US(SE,So)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Randolph 603, "A Picture from Life's Other Side" (1 text, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 422-424, "A Picture from Life's Other Side" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 603)
Silber-FSWB, p. 265, "A Picture From Life's Other Side" (1 text)
Meredith/Covell/Brown, pp. 153-154, "The Lights of London Town" (1 text, 1 tune, quite distinct from the common version)
DT, PICTLIFE*
Roud #3527
RECORDINGS:
Benny Borg (The Singing Soldier), "Pictures from Life's Other Side" (Columbia 15183-D, 1927)
The Blue Sky Boys, "Picture From Life's Other Side" (Bluebird 8646/Montgomery Ward M-8845, 1941; rec. 1940)
The Clinch Valley Boys, "Picture From Life's Other Side" (Champion 15316/Silvertone 5091/Challenge 393 [as Borton & Lang], 1927)
Vernon Dalhart, "Pictures from Life's Other Side" (OKeh 40696, 1926)
Hank & Slim, "Three Pictures of Life's Other Side" (Vocalion 02808,/Vocalion 02840, 1934)
Harkins & Moran [pseud. for Sid Harkreader & Grady Moore], "A Picture from Life's Other Side" (Broadway 8055, c. 1930)
Jenkins Family [or Jenkins Sacred Singers], "Pictures from Life's Other Side" (OKeh 45134, 1927)
Matt Judson, "Pictures from Life's Other Side" (Clarion 5141-C, 1930)
Kelly Family, "A Picture from Life's Other Side" (Decca 5054, 1934)
Bradley Kincaid, "A Picture from Life's Other Side" (Vocalion 5476, 1930; Conqueror 7983, 1932; Vocalion 4647, 1939)
Luke the Drifter [pseud., Hank Williams], "Pictures from Life's Other Side" (MGM 11120, 1951)
Frank Luther's Trio, "A Picture of Life's Other Side" (Decca 5039, 1934)
Old Southern Sacred Singers, "Picture from Life's Other Side" (Brunswick 115, 1926; recut 1932)
Sam Patterson Trio, "Pictures from Life's Other Side" (Edison 52085, 1927)
Goebel Reeves, "Pictures from Life's Other Side" (MacGregor 875, n.d.)
Smith's Sacred Singers, "Pictures from Life's Other Side" (Columbia 15090-D, 1926/Vocalion 02949, 1935) (Bluebird B-5606, 1934; Montgomery Ward M-4804, 1935)
Smoky Mountain Sacred Singers "'Tis a Picture From Life's Other Side" (Vocalion 5119, c. 1927/Domino 0186, 1927 [as Smoky Mountain Twins ,"A Picture From Life's Other Side"])
"'Tis a Picture From Life's Other Side" (Vocalion 5119, 1927; rec. 1926) (Domino 0186 [as Smoky Mountain Twins,"A Picture From Life's Other Side"], 1927/Challenge 667/Banner 6041 [both as Lonesome Pine Twins, "A Picture from Life's Other Side"], 1927; Banner 0586 [as :Smoky Mountain Twins, "Picture from Life's Other Side"], 1930)
Frank Welling, "Picture[s] from Life's Other Side" (Champion 15924 [as Clarence Young]/Supertone 9612 [as Frank Hill], 1930)
NOTES: The 1896 sheet music credits this to "Vaughn" (B. Vaughan?) -- but we all know what that is worth. Charles E. Baer is another suggested author.
The Australian piece, "The Lights of London Town," shares almost none of the words of the American texts, and lacks the image of the picture. But the details and feel of the song are so close that I really think they spring from the same roots. Meredith et al suspect their version of coming from the music hall. This strikes me as possible -- it may be a music hall rewrite of the American song, or vice versa. - RBW
File: R603

Picture No Artist Can Paint, A


DESCRIPTION: "A quaint New England homestead Where a gray-haired couple dwell, Their heads are bowed with sorrow For the one they loved so well." Their daughter ran away from home after an argument. Her brother left to seek her. Neither has yet returned
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1930 (recording, Leake County Revelers)
KEYWORDS: family separation children brother sister
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Randolph 831, "A Picture No Artist Can Paint" (1 text)
Roud #7441
RECORDINGS:
Leake County Revelers, "A Picture No Artist Can Paint" (Columbia 15691-D, 1931; rec. 1930)
File: R831

Picture that Is Turned Toward the Wall, The


DESCRIPTION: "Far beyond the glamour of the city and its strife There's a quiet little homestead by the sea." But a family daughter ran away, and "There's a name that's never spoken, and a mother's heart is broken... And a picture that is turned toward the wall."
AUTHOR: Charles Graham
EARLIEST DATE: 1891 (copyright)
KEYWORDS: separation abandonment children
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Spaeth-ReadWeep, pp. 160-161, "The Picture That Is Turned Toward the Wall" (1 text, 1 tune)
Geller-Famous, pp. 59-63, "The Picture That Is Turned Toward the Wall" (1 text, 1 tune)
Gilbert, pp. 276-277, "The Picture That Is Turned Toward the Wall" (1 text)
DT, PICWALL*
RECORDINGS:
Vernon Dalhart, "The Picture That Is Turned Toward the Wall" (Columbia 15030-D, 1925) (Edison 51607 [as Vernon Dalhart & Co.], 1925)
NOTES: Written by Graham after seeing the play "Blue Jeans," in which a father turns his runaway daughter's picture toward the wall. (Why not take it down? Don't ask me.)
The song sold extremely well, but as so often happens, Graham saw little of the proceeds, and died a pauper in 1899.
He also produced a sequel, "Her Father Has Turned the Dear Picture Again." Which had all the success it deserved.
To set a new record for Completely Useless Information Included in the Ballad Index, some students of Sherlock Holmes claim that the woman whose picture is turned toward the wall is none other than Irene Adler, the heroine of "A Scandal in Bohemia." The latter story was published in 1891, with an internal date of 1888 though Sherlockians have demonstrated that this date is not possible. For what little I can glean of this theory, see William S. Baring-Gould, The Annotated Sherlock Holmes, Volume I, note 28 to "A Scandal in Bohemia" (p. 354 in the Wings Books edition). - RBW
File: SRW160

Pie in the Sky


See The Preacher and the Slave (File: San221)

Pig and a Posset o' Whey, A


DESCRIPTION: The singer, it seems, would poison her husband, Arthur o' Broadley, with a witch's brew. She wants to be a widow. She likes "the yellow haired lad." Expensive meal will be cheap again and she won't mind if "farmers a' may hang themselves"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (GreigDuncan8)
KEYWORDS: farming poison humorous nonballad husband wife youth
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan8 1706, "A Pig and a Posset o' Whey" (1 text)
Roud #13525
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Dear Meal's Cheap Again" (one verse; see the note below)
NOTES: The verse, "The dear meal will be cheap again; The dear meal will be cheap again, The Farmers may go hang themselves; The dear meal will be cheap again" dates back at least to 1813. It is embedded in a medley in W. Beattie, Buchan Poetry. Fruits of Time Parings (Aberdeen, 1873 (Reprint of the 1813 edition ("Digitized by Google"))), p. 63). See "The Ports Are Open" for a discussion of grain prices after the Napoleonic wars. - BS
I'd love to know how getting rid of farmers would lower grain prices. I suppose the claim is that they are jacking up prices, but historically, it has rarely happened that way.... - RBW
Last updated in version 2.5
File: GrD81706

Pig at Home in the Pen


DESCRIPTION: Floaters: "When she saw me coming, she hung her head and cried/Yonder comes the meanest boy that ever lived or died." "Next time said darling, pick a bed with me...." Cho: "Got that pig at home in the pen, corn to feed him on/All I want..."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1937 (recording, Arthur Smith Trio)
KEYWORDS: love sex rejection farming floatingverses nonballad animal
FOUND IN: US(SE,Ap)
RECORDINGS:
Spud Gravely w. Glen Smith, "Pig in a Pen" (on Persis1)
Arthur Smith Trio, "Pig at Home in the Pen" (on Bluebird B-7043, 1937)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Shady Grove" (lyrics)
File: RcPAHITP

Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer, drunk, walks down the street "in tipsy pride" and falls down in the gutter A pig lies down beside him. A high-toned lady remarks that "you can tell a man who boozes By the company he chooses," and "the pig got up and slowly walked away"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1933 (copyrighted by Benjamin Hapgood Burt)
KEYWORDS: drink humorous animal
FOUND IN: US Britain(England) Australia
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Shellans, pp. 58-59, "Friendship with a Hog" (1 text, 1 tune; the first two verses from this song but the last three might be informant John Daniel Vass's expansions of the piece)
DT, PIGINEBR PIGINEB2 PIGENEB3
Roud #7322
RECORDINGS:
Frank Crumit, "The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away" (Decca 313, 1934)
Rudy Vallee, "The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away" (Victor 25092, 1935)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Juged by the Company One Keeps
The Company One Keeps
Pig and the Inebriate
Pig Got Up and Walked Away
Friendship with a Hog
NOTES: Judging by the results of a cursory Google study, this bit is passing into oral tradition fairly quickly. - PJS
There are quite a few questions about it. Paul credited it to Benjamin Hapgood Burt, with a 1933 copyright -- yet Hazel Felleman's Best Loved Poems of the American People, published 1936, lists no author. There are four citations, including Felleman's, in Granger's Index to Poetry (where it is titled "Judged by the Company One Keeps"), none of which mentions Burt; one attributes it to Aimor R. Dickson. My guess is that Burt rewrote an older piece. But it certainly seems to be traditional. - RBW
File: RcPGUSWA

Pig in the Parlor


DESCRIPTION: "My ma and pa was Irish (x3), And I am Irish too," "Your right hand to your partner/neighbor... And we'll all promenade." "We got a new pig in the parlor... and he is Irish too." "We kept the cat in the cream-jug... And it was Irish too." Etc.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1907 (GreigDuncan8)
KEYWORDS: playparty nonballad animal family
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber)) US(MW,So)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
GreigDuncan8 1746, "My Father and Mither Were Irish" (1 text, 1 tune)
Randolph 522, "Pig in the Parlor" (1 text, 1 tune)
BrownIII 80, "Pig in the Parlor" (1 short text plus 1 excerpt and 1 fragment)
DT, PIGPARLR*
Roud #4251
RECORDINGS:
Chubby Parker, "And That Was Irish Too" (Conqueror 7896, 1931)
Pete Seeger, "Pig in the Parlor" (on PeteSeeger22) (on PeteSeeger33, PeteSeegerCD03)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "We Won't Go Home Until Morning" (floating lyrics, form)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
We Have a Pig in the Parlor
File: R522

Piggy on the Railway


See Paddy on the Railway (File: MSNR151)

Pinery Boy


See The Sailor Boy (I) [Laws K12] (File: LK12)

Pining Daily and Daily


DESCRIPTION: "I am pining day and daily this twelve months and above, I am pining day and daily, and all about my love My beauty it is fading... And I wish I was with my true love...." The singer's love has been unfaithful, but her words encourage him to return
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1926 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: love separation emigration
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
SHenry H149, p. 456, "Pining Daily and Daily" (1 text, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Blacksmith" (plot)
NOTES: Kennedy, seemingly followed by Brunnings, connects this with "She Moved Through the Fair (Our Wedding Day)." This, in my opinion, is an impossible degree of stretch. The lyrics have some similarity to "The Blacksmith"; I also find myself reminded of "I'll Weave My Love a Garland." - RBW
File: HHH149

Pint Pot and Billy


DESCRIPTION: The singer apparently struck it rich in Australia and returned to join the high society in Britain. But he hates it: "Now I am stranded on my own native shore, I'll go back to Australia to the goldfields again." No one understands him; he wants to go home
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1973
KEYWORDS: Australia home gold
FOUND IN: Australia
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Fahey-Eureka, pp. 116-117, "Pint Pot and Billy" (1 text, 1 tune)
File: FaE116

Pioneer Preacher, The


DESCRIPTION: "As we were on the ice and snow, It rained, it hailed, and the wind did blow... We were so cold we almost died." "But thank the Lord, relief was found...." The singer will preach in Tennessee/Cumberland, where "Religion's scarce"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1936 (Hudson)
KEYWORDS: clergy storm pioneer settler Indians(Am.)
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Hudson 82, p. 82, "The Pioneer Preacher" (1 short text)
Thomas-Makin', pp. 168-169, "The Evangelist's Song" (1 text)
Roud #4493
File: Hud082

Pioneers, The


DESCRIPTION: The pioneers, the engineers, the cannoneers are very hardy, and very sexual.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1929
KEYWORDS: bawdy humorous talltale sex scatological animal
FOUND IN: US(MW,SW)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Cray, pp. 228-231, "The Pioneers" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Randolph-Legman I, pp. 510-512, "The Pioneers" (6 texts, 1 tune)
DT, PIONEERS*
Roud #10119
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Son of a Gambolier" (tune & meter) and references there
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Engineers
The M.P.s
The Infantry
The A.P.s
The Mountaineers
File: EM228

Piper MacNeil


DESCRIPTION: Piper MacNeil loves whisky. One night he staggers home falling-down drunk. His mother opens the door, sees his dirty clothes and curses whisky. He says she should not be angry because "as long as I live I aye will be, That I'll take a drap whisky-o"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1967 (recording, Willie Scott)
KEYWORDS: drink mother
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Bord))
Roud #5125
RECORDINGS:
Willie Scott, "Piper O'Neill" (on Voice13) [the title seems to be an errror for "Piper MacNeil" in the text]
File: RcPipMON

Piper o' Dumbarton, The


DESCRIPTION: "Saw ye Rory Murphy, Rory Murphy, Rory Murphy, Saw ye Rory Murphy, Comin' through Dumbarton?" Rory, "a piper guid," plays for his living and travels Scotland, but at last falls "doun a brae" while drunk
AUTHOR: David Webster ?
EARLIEST DATE: 1899 (Ford)
KEYWORDS: music death drink
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ford-Vagabond, pp. 138-141, "The Piper o' Dumbarton" (1 text)
Roud #13116
File: FVS138

Piper O'Neill


See Piper MacNeil (File: RcPipMON)

Piper of Crossbarry, The


DESCRIPTION: Piper Flor Begley volunteers to fight but his captain prefers that "Today you'll stride between our lines and martial music play." Tom Barry's fighters defeat 2000 British. "The Piper of Crossbarry, boys, had piped old Ireland free"
AUTHOR: Bryan Mac Mahon
EARLIEST DATE: 1965 (OLochlainn-More)
KEYWORDS: rebellion battle Ireland patriotic IRA music
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Mar 19, 1921 - Nationalist victory at Crossbarry
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
OLochlainn-More 58A, "The Piper of Crossbarry" (1 text, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Boys of Kilmichael" (subject: The exploits of Tom Barry)
NOTES: [On March 19, 1921], 104 men of the Third West Cork Flying Column of the IRA, under Tom Barry, defeat more than 1000 British and 120 Auxiliaries about 12 miles south-west of Cork city (source: Tom Barry Leads West Cork Flying Column To Victory at Crossbarry at Cork's War of Independence site).
The "Black and Tans" were British reinforcements to regular British soldiers sent to Ireland in 1920. The "Auxiliary Cadets" were veteran British army officers sent to help the Black and Tans. (source: Michael Collins: A Man Against an Empire copyright by and available on the History Net site) For more information see RBW note for "The Bold Black and Tan" - BS
Crossbarry was really two actions: Kee, p. 128, notes that "at Crossbarry... not only did Tom Barry and his flying column successfully ambush a convoy of nine military lorries but fought their way out of a massive attempt to encircle them afterward."
This was not the only victory won by Barry in 1920-1921, nor even his most notorious. He was also, according to OxfordCompanion:, p. 40, responsible for killing 15 Auxiliaries at Kilmichael on November 28, 1920 -- an event which also inspired a song.
Kee, pp. 120-121, reports of this action, "After a savage fight at close quarters in which three IRA were killed and, according to Barry, the Auxiliaries made use of the notorious 'false surrender' tactics, the entire convoy was wiped out, and seventeen of the eighteen auxiliaries were killed.... [T]he first British officer on the scene... said that although he had seen thousands of men lying dead in the course of the war, he had never before seen such an appalling sight... The doctor at the inquest, an Irishman, said that there was no doubt that some of the injuries had been inflicted after death."
Dangerfield's history of Irish rebellion does not list Kilmichael or Crossbarry but on p. 319 does mention an action of 1920: "On 9 December a flying column under Tom Barry, Commandant of Cork's No. 3 Brigade, and one of the most ruthless and successful of all guerilla leaders, ambushed two lorry loads of Auxiliaries, and wiped them out in circumstances of unusual savagery."
Although Barry's behavior was unconscionable, the reaction was also ugly, showing how bad conditions were in Ireland at that time: In December, pro-British forces (Auxiliaries and Black and Tans) destroyed a large part of the city of Cork (Kee, pp. 116-117).
Barry would later attack a police barracks in Cork (Kee, p. 128).
Younger, pp. 108-109, notes a case of Barry justifying the murder of a Catholic member of the R. I. C. as he went in to mass, though it doesn't tell whether Barry was actually the assassin.
It's probably no surprise that, when Irish leaders had to decide on the Treaty granting Ireland functional independence, Barry was against it (Murphy, p. 48).
Coogan, p. 169, sums up Barry and Crossbarry as follows: "Barry in fact was one of the bravest men in the war and probably the most successful field commander.... [H]e achieved a spectacular success at Crossbarry, County Cork, on 19 March 1921. In a day-long engagement, encouraged by the traditional pipes of Flor Begley, Barry and a force of about a hundred men broke through a more heavily armed British encirclement of ten times that number and got away safely...."
Ironically, Barry (1897-1980) had been in the British Army in Mesopotamia (Kee, p. 70), and had shown no evidence of nationalist sympathies at that time. But he would later become a high officer of the IRA, becoming its Chief of Staff for a time in 1937.
He eventually wrote a memoir, Guerilla Days in Ireland.- RBW
BibliographyLast updated in version 2.5
File: OLcM058A

Piper Who Played Before Moses, The


See The Ould Piper (File: RcTOlPi)

Piper's Tunes, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer goes to town "to view the pretty lasses" and sees a famous Captain and Joe Blake. Blake the piper plays the favorite tunes and variations, all named. "Get up and shake your heels, 'tis better sport than any"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1855 (broadside, Johnson Ballads 602)
KEYWORDS: dancing music
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
OLochlainn 11, "The Piper's Tunes" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3030
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Johnson Ballads 602, "Sporting Irish Piper," E.M.A. Hodges (London), 1846-1854; also 2806 b.11(249), Johnson Ballads 603, "Sporting Irish Piper"; 2806 c.15(147), 2806 b.9(225), "The Rakes of Kildare"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Bob and Joan" (tune, per OLochlainn)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
John Murphy
NOTES: The final line of the Bodleian "The Rakes of Kildare" broadsides is "Oh, tune up the old banjo, for that's better than any." OLochlainn's town is Cove and his famous captain Burke of Grove; the broadsides town is Kildare and the famous captain Cornock of Cromwell's Fort. The Bodleian "Sporting Irish Piper" broadsides have no similar final line or famous captain, the town is Liverpool and the piper is John Murphy." The same tunes are played throughout. - BS
File: OLoc011

Pirate of the Isles, The


DESCRIPTION: "I command a steady band Of pirates so bold and free." The pirate rejoices at being ruler of his ship and men. He tells of his joy in the sea. At last, however, he is overtaken by a warship. Hit by a cannonball, he is dying. His crew surrenders
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1847 (Journal of William Histed of the Cortes)
KEYWORDS: pirate ship battle death
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Harlow, pp. 172-174, "The Pirate of the Isle" (1 text, 1 tune)
Huntington-Whalemen, pp. 74-77, "The Pirate of the Isles" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #2024
BROADSIDES:
Murray, Mu23-y4:026, "The Pirate of the Isles," unknown, 19C
File: SWMS074

Pirate Smith


DESCRIPTION: Smith scoured the seas "with a noble crew of cutthroats." "He said that grabbing booty was a Briton's pleasing duty." He'd hang foreign foemen from his lanyards. At 37 he is killed by a Spanish bullet and goes to heaven "to rest in Nelson's bosom"
AUTHOR: T.D. Sullivan (1827-1914) (source: OLochlainn-More)
EARLIEST DATE: 1965 (OLochlainn-More)
KEYWORDS: death sea ship England humorous political pirate
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
OLochlainn-More 65, "Pirate Smith" (1 text, 1 tune)
NOTES: Sullivan is the author of a number of Irish patriotic poems, of which "God Save Ireland" is probably the best-known. This is one of the few non-nationalist poems I've seen from his pen. Ironically, the Smith he commemorates does not seem to be very famous; there are several Smiths with entries in Rogozinski's The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pirates, but none of them fit the hero of this song. - RBW
File: OLcM065

Pirate Song


See The Bold Pirate [Laws K30] (File: LK30)

Pirate, The


See Captain Kidd [Laws K35] (File: LK35)

Pirate's Serenade, The


DESCRIPTION: "My boat's by the tower, my bark's in the bay, And both must be gone ere the dawn of the day." The pirate waits for his bride. He asks that his roughness be excused. She shall "rule as Queen." He sees her signal that she is coming
AUTHOR: William Kennedy (source: Whistle-Binkie)
EARLIEST DATE: 1842 (_Whistle-Binkie_)
KEYWORDS: courting marriage ship pirate
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Creighton-Maritime, pp. 152-153, "The Pirate's Serenade" (1 text, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: Alexander Rodger, editor, _Whistle-Binkie_, Second Series (Glasgow, 1842), pp. 99-100, "The Pirate's Serenade"
Roud #2698
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Firth b.25(493), "The Pirate's Serenade," T.A. Jackson (Birmingham) , c.1860
NOTES: See two very similar broadsides for "The Pirate's Serenade" attributed to Geo. A. W. Langford Fahie and with the tune "I Am Off for Baltimore": LOCSinging, as111010, "The Pirate's Serenade," J. Andrews (New York), 1853-1859; also sb30427a, "The Pirate's Serenade" - BS
File: CrMa152

Piri-miri-dictum Domini


See I Gave My Love a Cherry
 (File: R123)

Pirn-Taed Jockie


DESCRIPTION: While a girl was kissing Jockey she stole his candy. When at a ball, he kissed Polly Procter; she ran off with an ugly soldier. At a market he swapped his nag, blind in one eye, for a Balaklava charger that was blind in both.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1910 (GreigDuncan6)
KEYWORDS: courting bargaining trick party humorous soldier
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Greig #144, pp. 2-3, "Pirn-Tae't Jockie" (1 text)
GreigDuncan6 1220, "Pirn-Taed Jockie" (2 texts)
Roud #6315
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Swapping Boy" (theme: bad bargains)
NOTES: GreigDuncan6: "Pirn-taed" means "pigeon-toed."
Greig: "Tune of verse - 'The girl I left behind me,' Tune of chorus - ;The white cockade'." - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: GrD61220

Pit the Lassie Till Her Beddie


DESCRIPTION: Put the lassie to bed. Her head and back are sore. "She'll need cock bree"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1905 (GreigDuncan7)
KEYWORDS: sex pregnancy
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan7 1430, "Pit the Lassie Till Her Beddie" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
Roud #7268
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Sandy's the Laddie That I'm Gaun Wi'" (tune, per GreigDuncan7)
NOTES: GreigDuncan7 quoting Duncan: "The words are said to be objectionable." "No more remembered: the reference is of course indelicate." - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: GrD71430

Pitcaithly's Wells


DESCRIPTION: "It fell aboot the Lammas time A fine time o' the year..." that the singer goes out and sees the girls "drink the waters clear." His eye lights on one in particular. He asks if she will marry; she refuses at first, but after a time of courting, consents
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1776 (Herd, according to Greig)
KEYWORDS: love courting
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Greig #20, p. 1, "Pitcaithly's Well" (1 text)
GreigDuncan4 925, "Pitcaithly's Wells" (8 texts plus 5 verses on pp. 578-579, 9 tunes)
Ord, pp. 133-134, "Pitcaithly's Wells" (1 text)
Roud #5549
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Clyde's Water" (tune, per GreigDuncan4)
NOTES: Ord reports a legend that this was written, perhaps c. 1700, by the Earl of Kinnoul in honor of Jeannie Oliphant of Pitcaithly. This sounds like the usual sort of pretty legend. - RBW
Greig: "Pitcaithly, celebrated for its mineral wells, is situated near Bridge of Earn in Perthshire." - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: Ord134

Pitgair


See Charlie, O Charlie (Pitgair) (File: Ord216)

Pitman's Courtship, The


DESCRIPTION: "Quite soft blew the wind from the west, The sun faintly shone in the sky, When Lukey and Bessie sat courting, As walking I chanced to espy." He reminds her that they have been together since childhood, and promises business and a fine wedding
AUTHOR: William Mitford
EARLIEST DATE: 1900 (Stokoe/Reay); Mitford died 1851
KEYWORDS: love courting marriage
FOUND IN: Britain(England(North))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Stokoe/Reay, pp. 39-40, "The Pitman's Courtship" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST StoR039 (Partial)
Roud #3058
File: StoR039

Pitman's Happy Times, The


DESCRIPTION: "When aw wes yung, maw collier lads, Ne man cud happier be; For wages was like sma' coals then, An' cheps cud raise a spree." The singer recalls all afford in his youth, and notes in sad amazement all the changes since -- e.g. that all children can read
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1900 (Stokoe/Reay)
KEYWORDS: work age children food clothes money mining
FOUND IN: Britain(England(North))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Stokoe/Reay, pp. 167-169, "The Pitman's Happy Times" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3172
NOTES: Never thought I'd see a coal miner reminiscing about the good old days.... - RBW
File: StoR167

Pittenweem Fisher-Wife's Song, The


DESCRIPTION: The fisher-wife wakes her husband and three sons. The sun shines like gold in their boat and it is time, while they still live, to row out -- "were I a man I'd off to sea" -- and, when they return at night, she'll hear their "songs and tales"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (GreigDuncan8)
KEYWORDS: fishing sea nonballad family
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
GreigDuncan8 1760, "Fisher Song" (1 fragment)
ADDITIONAL: Christopher Stone, Sea Songs and Ballads (Oxford, 1906 ("Digitized by Google")), #24 pp. 36-37, "We'll Go To Sea No More"
J. E. Patterson, The Sea Anthology: From the Earliest Times Down to the Middle of the Nineteenth Century (New York, 1913 ("Digitized by Google")), p. 182, "The Pittenweem Fisher-Wife's Song"
Roud #13136
NOTES: The line about hearing songs is ironic if Greig's assessment is accurate: "There are not many traditional songs dealing with fisher folk; and as for fisher folk themselves they do not seem to have any old minstrelsy dealing with their special calling and interests" [Greig #153, p. 2]. - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: GrD81760

Pitty Patty Poke


DESCRIPTION: Game played while patting a baby's feet: "Pitty patty poke, Shoe the wild colt, Here a nail, there a nail, Pitty patty poke"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1952 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: nonballad
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
BrownIII 119, "Pitty Patty Poke" (1 text)
Roud #7850
File: Br3119

Pity Poor Labourers


DESCRIPTION: "You sons of old England, now listen... Concerning poor lab'rers we all must allow Who work all day at the tail of the plow. Oh, pity poor lab'rers, oh, pity them all, For five or six shillings they work the whole week." The complaints of poor workers
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1973
KEYWORDS: poverty work
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Fahey-Eureka, pp. 18-19, "Pity Poor Labourers" (1 text, 1 tune)
File: FaE018

Place Where the Old Horse Died, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer recalls a spot -- a spot he no longer visits: "The place where the old horse died." He recalls that final ride, where the horse, for no evident reason, stumbled. Rider soon arose, but the faithful horse never moved again
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1955
KEYWORDS: horse death burial
FOUND IN: Australia
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Meredith/Anderson, pp. 279-281, "The Place Where the Old Horse Died" (2 texts, 1 tune)
File: MA279

Plaidie Awa, The


See The Wind Blew the Bonnie Lass's Plaidie Awa' (File: RcWBTBLP)

Plain Golden Band, The [Laws H17]


DESCRIPTION: The singer recalls his parting from his former sweetheart and why she gave back her engagement ring. A young man comes to her and tells her stories of the singer's falsehood. She briefly dallies with him. Having stained the ring, she must return it
AUTHOR: Joe Scott?
EARLIEST DATE: 1958 (Ives-NewBrunswick)
KEYWORDS: farewell ring infidelity lie trick
FOUND IN: US(NE) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Laws H17, "The Plain Golden Band"
Doerflinger, pp. 247-249, "The Plain Golden Band" (2 texts, 2 tunes, although Laws apparently does not include the first text and tune, which are fragmentary, with this ballad)
Ives-DullCare, pp. 149-151,253, "The Plain Golden Band" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ives-NewBrunswick, pp. 159-162, "The Plain Golden Band" (1 text, 1 tune)
Manny/Wilson 39, "The Plain Golden Band" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT 693, PLAINGLD
Roud #1963
NOTES: Ives-DullCare: "Of all Joe Scott's ballads, this is the one most closely identified with him. Even people who didn't know the song itself would often tell me that it was about Joe's own life--that this Lizzie had jilted him and it broke his heart." - BS
File: LH17

Plains of Baltimore, The


DESCRIPTION: As the singer prepares to leave (Ireland?), his rich sweetheart promises to go with him and takes some of her father's money with her. They leave Ireland for America and settle down happily. Her father promises a reward when their first son is born
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1934 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: emigration father love elopement
FOUND IN: US(MA) Ireland Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Warner 5, "Plains of Baltimore" (1 text, 1 tune)
SHenry H553, p. 482, "Jamie, Lovely Jamie" (1 text, 1 tune)
Creighton-SNewBrunswick 38, "There Was a Wealthy Farmer" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST Wa005 (Full)
Roud #7457
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Bonny Labouring Boy" [Laws M14]
NOTES: Creighton-SNewBrunswick has the money sewn into her dress: "This lovely maid was gaily decked most wondrous to behold, And in her dress a fortune sewed, five hundred pounds in gold." - BS
This is fairly typical of the versions, though the amount varies, as does the place of departure. The ending, in which the father forgives and offers more money once the son is born, seems fixed. - RBW
File: Wa005

Plains of Drishane, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer "roamed Eastwards to view navigations of the pleasin' grand scene" and other wonders "for this far famed dwelling station Whose proper appelation her name is Drisbane ... For grandeur it has taken the sway from them all"
AUTHOR: Sean O Tuama (Johnny Nora Aodha)? (source: OCanainn)
EARLIEST DATE: 1978 (OCanainn)
LONG DESCRIPTION: The singer "roamed Eastwards to view navigations of the pleasin' grand scene" and other wonders "for this far famed dwelling station Whose proper appelation her name is Drisbane." He admires each plantation, the mill for gringing corn, the huge oxen, guinea-hens, peacock and swan. The trees are matchless. The castle "has baffled molestations and Cromwell's aspirations." Strangers "ponder in amazement whilst on it they are gazing." They tell "in all these foreign places, Spain, Germany and Gaul" that "for grandeur it has taken the sway from them all."
KEYWORDS: nonballad lyric
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
OCanainn, pp. 92-93,123, "The Plains of Drishane" (1 text, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Groves of Blarney" (theme: extravagant praise of Cork) and references there
NOTES: This, probably consciously, outdoes "The Groves of Blarney." For example, in "Blarney" the castle is attacked by Cromwell: "her he did pommel. And made a breach in her battlement." Cromwell's "molestations" are "baffled" at Drisbane.
OCanainn: The singer "tells me that Johnny Nora Aodha is said to have composed it while going by horse and cart to Drishane for lime. On his arrival he sang the song for the man who was to sell him the lime. Tradition has it that his composition was so well receivd that he got the lime free. It's a good story and deserves to be true!" Maybe so, but to my mind it's too good of a one-upmanship story over the writer of "Castle Hyde,' the "inspiration" for "The Groves of Blarney." And Aodha's song seems to me to one up "The Groves of Blarney" which, itself, one ups "Castle Hyde." - BS
File: OCan092

Plains of Emu, The (The Exile of Erin II)


DESCRIPTION: The Irish prisoner sadly recalls his home in Erin. The singer, though he claims he never received "a base-earned coin," has been transported for life. He fondly recalls his mother and his Nora. He says, "The tie is unbroken on the plains of Emu."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1829
KEYWORDS: prisoner transportation separation
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Fahey-Eureka, pp. 36-37, "The Exile of Erin" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #4354
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Exile of Erin (I)" (theme)
NOTES: Emu Plains was a prison farm outside Sydney, established to grow food for the large population of that city. - RBW
File: FaE036

Plains of Illinois, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer urges "all you good old farmers that on your plow depend" to "come travel west and settle on the plains of Illinois." It is alleged that Adam would compare Illinois to the Garden of Eden. The state and its residents are glowingly described
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Sandburg)
KEYWORDS: Bible talltale emigration farming
FOUND IN: US(MA,MW)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
FSCatskills 89, "The Plains of Illinois" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sandburg, pp. 162-163, "El-A-Noy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSNA 41, "El-A-Noy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Botkin-MRFolklr, p. 561, "El-a-noy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 42, "Elanoy" (1 text)
DT, PLAINILL*
Roud #4605
RECORDINGS:
Art Thieme, "State of Illinois" (on Thieme01) (on Thieme05)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
State of Illinois
File: FSC089

Plains of Mexico (I), The


See Santy Anno (File: Doe078)

Plains of Mexico (II)


See The Banks of the Nile (Men's Clothing I'll Put On II) [Laws N9] (File: LN09)

Plains of Waterloo (I), The [Laws N32]


DESCRIPTION: The singer, a soldier, sees Sally lamenting for her Willie -- the wars are over but Willie has not returned. He tells her that Willie died at Waterloo after bidding her farewell, but then shows his half of a broken token and reveals himself as Willie
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1928 (Mackenzie)
KEYWORDS: brokentoken disguise mourning war soldier battle
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar,Newf) Ireland
REFERENCES (11 citations):
Laws N32, "The Plains of Waterloo I"
Fowke/MacMillan 66, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Greenleaf/Mansfield 85, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Peacock, pp. 1014-1015, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Leach-Labrador 126, "Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Creighton-Maritime, pp. 56-57, "Plains of Waterloo" (1 text plus a fragment, 1 tune)
Creighton-SNewBrunswick 34, "Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Mackenzie 69, "Waterloo" (1 text)
Moylan 189, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Morton-Maguire 46, pp. 137-138,173, "Smith at Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT 459, PLNWLOO PLNWLOO2
Roud #960
RECORDINGS:
Amos Jollimore, "The Plains of Waterloo" (on MRHCreighton)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "John (George) Riley (I)" [Laws N36] and references there
cf. "The Banks of the Clyde (I)" (plot, lyrics)
cf. "The Maid of Dunmore" (partial plot, lyrics)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Smith at Waterloo
NOTES: Creighton-Maritime: "I have two quite different songs by the same title." I believe Creighton's complete version and fragmentary text are both Laws N32.
Creighton's problem seems to come from the fragment's following "eighteenth of June" verse that matches no other "eighteenth of June" I've found for any Waterloo ballad or broadside; the sense of the verse -- that Willie was killed in battle -- belongs with Laws N32. In addition, the only other verse in the fragment also belongs to Laws N32.
"On the eighteenth day of June the battle was ended
Which caused many the British heroes to sigh and complain,
The drums they did beat and the cannons they did rattle
And by a French soldier your true love was slain."
Mackenzie: "The hypothesis that I have finally excogitated is that 'Waterloo' [Laws N32] is a fragmentary and modified version of the early nineteenth-century English ballad entitled 'The Mantle So Green,' [Laws N38] and that 'The Mantle So Green' is in its turn a modified version of the late eighteenth-century English ballad 'George Reilly.' [Laws N36]" Mackenzie's discussion includes a detailed examination of the three ballads.
Online, you can get some idea of the similarities by using these texts at one of the Digital Tradition sites [searching on the DT number works, for example #459]:
Laws N32: "Plains of Waterloo" DT #459.
Laws N38: "The Mantle So Green" DT #463.
Laws N36: "George Reilly (6)" DT #592 [unfortunately, as noted there, this one "sort of stops short," before the narrator tells of George's supposed dying words "Farewell, my dearest Nancy ...." Laws reveals the end: Finally he [the narrator] puts an end to the girl's grief by revealing that he is Riley."] - BS
Obviously there is a great similarity between these broken token songs, and the Waterloo-specific versions probably *are* more recent (since the Napoleonic Wars were the last great wars before the telegraph and railroad and widespread literacy). But the vast number of songs of this type (see the mass list under Laws N36) inclines me to think that they are not all related -- but that Laws N36 and "The Mantle So Green" [Laws N38], which are among the most popular, are at the heart of the tradition. - RBW
The ballad is recorded on one of the CD's issued around the time of the bicentenial of the 1798 Irish Rebellion. See:
Franke Harte and Donal Lunny, "The Plains of Waterloo" (on Franke Harte and Donal Lunny, "My Name is Napoleon Bonaparte," Hummingbird Records HBCD0027 (2001)) - BS
File: LN32

Plains of Waterloo (II), The [Laws J3]


DESCRIPTION: The singer tells of all the places he has fought, ending with his part at Waterloo (from which he is grateful to have emerged alive). He tells of Napoleon's success on the first two days of the battle and of Wellington's victory on the final day
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1869 (Logan)
KEYWORDS: war Napoleon battle
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
FOUND IN: US(MW) Canada(Mar,Ont)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Laws J3, "The Plains of Waterloo II"
Dean, pp. 118-119, "The Battle of Waterloo" (1 text)
Mackenzie 73, "The Plains of Waterloo," "Wellington and Waterloo" (2 texts)
Ives-NewBrunswick, pp. 117-119, "The Battle of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT 547, PLNWLOO3
ST LJ03 (Full)
Roud #1922
RECORDINGS:
O. J. Abbott, "The Plains of Waterloo" (on Abbott1)
Amos Jollimore, "The Plains of Waterloo" (on MRHCreighton)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Plains of Waterloo (V)" (subject, plot)
NOTES: The notes in Laws regarding this piece are somewhat confusing. He quotes Mackenzie to the effect that this song "is plainly derived" from the much longer, more elaborate broadside piece we've listed as "The Plains of Waterloo (V)."
That the two are on the same theme is undeniable. But Bennett Schwartz, who has examined the matter with care, notes "I do not believe it was Laws's intent to consider these both the same, but rather to consider only the derivative as traditional. I think an argument can be made that J3 is not a derivative of this broadside at all."
Schwartz adds,
There are three other broadsides in Bodleian Library site Ballads Catalogue that describe the battle and go under the name "Plains of Waterloo." I do not believe they are the source of J3 either. Specifically,
"The Plains of Waterloo" beginning "The ancient sons of glory were all great men they say" (shelfmarks Harding B15(239b), Harding B 28(76), Harding B 11(3017), Harding B11(3018), Harding B 11(3019))
"The Plains of Waterloo" beginning "Assist me you muses while I relate a story" ( Harding B25(1501)[a hard-to-read copy])
"The Plains of Waterloo" beginning "On the Eighteenth Day of June, my boys, Napoleon did advance" (shelfmarks Firth c.14(7), Firth b.25(507), Firth c.14(28), Harding B11(91), Harding B 25(1503), Harding B 11(3020), Harding B 15(239a)) [Roud #5824]
Mackenzie's opening stanza for this song is presumably characteristic:
Come all you brisk and lively lads, come listen unto me,
While I relate how I have fought through the wars of Germany.
I have fought through Spain, through Portugal, through France and Flanders too;
But it's little I thought I'd be reserved for the plains of Waterloo. - BS, RBW
Although the "Battle of Waterloo" took place on June 18, 1815, it was actually the culmination of a several-day campaign. Napoleon, who had just returned from Elba, knew that all Europe would soon turn against him. His only hope was to defeat his enemies piecemeal -- starting with the Anglo-Dutch army of Wellington (the hero of the Peninsular campaign) and the Prussian army of Blucher.
Even though Napoleon started levying troops immediately, Wellington and Blucher together outnumbered the forces at his command by better than three to two. He had to separate them. He undertook this by dividing his army into two wings, the left under Ney and the right under Grouchy. (This was probably Napoleon's worst mistake of the campaign. He left his three of his best Marshals -- Soult, Suchet, and Davout -- in minor roles, while making the uninspired Ney and the inexperienced Grouchy his field commanders).
Napoleon struck first on June 16. Ordering Ney to attack Wellington's rearguard at Quatre Bras, Napoleon took Grouchy's reinforced right and attacked Blucher at Ligny. Ney's attack accomplished little, but Grouchy beat Blucher handily at Ligny.
Napoleon had apparently achieved his objective; Blucher was forced to retreat -- which took him away from Wellington. Napoleon therefore swung the larger part of his army back to deal with the British.
Unfortunately for the French, Blucher didn't retreat far. Even worse, Grouchy didn't follow him closely. Ney's errors topped things off. Given field command by Napoleon at Waterloo (June 18), Ney was unable to dislodge Wellington before Blucher returned to the battlefield. Since Grouchy did *not* show up, Blucher and Wellington swept Ney from the field, ending Napoleon's dreams forever. - RBW
File: LJ03

Plains of Waterloo (III), The [Laws J4]


DESCRIPTION: A boast of the bloody victory at Waterloo, telling of Mooney, who rides a milk-white steed as he rides his troops, and of General Hill, one of thousands of casualties
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1918 (Cecil Sharp collection)
KEYWORDS: war Napoleon battle
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
FOUND IN: US(SE,So)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Laws J4, "The Plains of Waterloo III"
SharpAp 139, "Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT 391, PLNSWLOO*
Roud #1923
File: LJ04

Plains of Waterloo (IV), The


DESCRIPTION: A very confused song. The singer goes to fight the French at Waterloo. He thinks of the mountains of Britain, and his parting from his girl. He receives a letter. Now the girl recalls her lover's departure and curses the man who killed him
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1935 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: soldier death Napoleon
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (2 citations):
SHenry H608, pp. 87-88, "The Plains of Waterloo (IV)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Moylan 192, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1106
NOTES: Sam Henry's text almost has to be a conflate song, combining two (or more) Waterloo ballads. Possibly they came together because both involved letters between lovers. But with only five stanzas of the combined piece, I haven't been able to identify the parts.
The best candidate seems to be Ford's song of the same name; they have similar opening lines, and Roud lumps the pieces. But the plots are different. - RBW
File: HHH608

Plains of Waterloo (V), The


DESCRIPTION: "On the sixteenth day of June, my boys, in Flanders where we lay," the troops are ordered to meet Napoleon at Waterloo. Napoleon urges on his men; Wellington just fights. When the British emerge victorious, they drink to King George
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1869 (Logan)
KEYWORDS: war Napoleon battle
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
FOUND IN: Britain(England,Scotland) Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Logan, pp. 106-109, "The Battle of Waterloo" (1 text)
Ford-Vagabond, pp. 61-65, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ord, pp. 299-301, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text)
Peacock, pp. 1016-1017, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST LJ03A (Partial)
Roud #1106
BROADSIDES:
Murray, Mu23-y1:033, "The Battle of Waterloo," James Lindsay Jr. (Glasgow), 19C
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Plains of Waterloo (II)" [Laws J3] (subject, plot)
SAME TUNE:
Behold He Comes (per broadside Murray, Mu23-y1:033)
NOTES: Laws mentions this piece in connection with Laws J3, "The Plains of Waterloo (II)," quoting Mackenzie's claim that this is the literary original of that ballad. Earlier editions of this index lumped the two (based on a lack of reliable texts of Laws J3 for comparison).
But, as Bennett Schwartz points out, they are not the same song as they stand now, and this piece may not even be the actual source of the Laws ballad; the material they both contain is largely commonplace. Thus we split them, though fragments might go with either one, and there will be editors who lump. - BS, RBW
Although the "Battle of Waterloo" took place on June 18, 1815, it was actually the culmination of a several-day campaign. Napoleon, who had just returned from Elba, knew that all Europe would soon turn against him. His only hope was to defeat his enemies piecemeal -- starting with the Anglo-Dutch army of Wellington (the hero of the Peninsular campaign) and the Prussian army of Blucher.
Even though Napoleon started levying troops immediately, Wellington and Blucher together outnumbered the forces at his command by better than three to two. He had to separate them. He undertook this by dividing his army into two wings, the left under Ney and the right under Grouchy. (This was probably Napoleon's worst mistake of the campaign. He left his three of his best Marshals -- Soult, Suchet, and Davout -- in minor roles, while making the uninspired Ney and the inexperienced Grouchy his field commanders).
Napoleon struck first on June 16. Ordering Ney to attack Wellington's rearguard at Quatre Bras, Napoleon took Grouchy's reinforced right and attacked Blucher at Ligny. Ney's attack accomplished little, but Grouchy beat Blucher handily at Ligny.
Napoleon had apparently achieved his objective; Blucher was forced to retreat -- which took him away from Wellington. Napoleon therefore swung the larger part of his army back to deal with the British.
Unfortunately for the French, Blucher didn't retreat far. Even worse, Grouchy didn't follow him closely. Ney's errors topped things off. Given field command by Napoleon at Waterloo (June 18), Ney was unable to dislodge Wellington before Blucher returned to the battlefield. Since Grouchy did *not* show up, Blucher and Wellington swept Ney from the field, ending Napoleon's dreams forever.
The other general mentioned in the song, Jerome, was Napoleon's younger brother. At Waterloo he commanded Ney's left, and failed completely to rout the British from their stronghold of Hougoumont. - RBW
File: LJ03A

Plains of Waterloo (VI), The


DESCRIPTION: The singer tells of her love, a soldier. She describes his beauty. He fights in the peninsular war. He dies at Salamanca and Waterloo. She describes his last messages, then says she will remain faithful until her own death
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1924 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: battle soldier death Napoleon
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
July 22, 1812 - Battle of Salamanca
June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Greig #79, pp. 2-3, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text)
GreigDuncan1 152, "The Plains of Waterloo" (8 texts, 7 tunes)
SHenry H15, p. 87, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Moylan 191, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #2853
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 26(49), "The Battle of Waterloo" ("On the 16th day of June, my boys, in Flanders where we lay"), unknown, no date; also Johnson Ballads 2338[many illegible lines; "Written by two soldiers of the Highland Brigade"], "The Battle of Waterloo"
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Waterloo
NOTES: The Sam Henry version of this song seems to conflate the battles of Salamanca and Waterloo; the hero is fighting at the first when he dies at the second. Either the song has been strangely damaged in transmission (and it shows no other signs of damage), or it was written by someone with no real understanding of the Napoleonic Wars. My guess is the latter; I suspect this was written well after its alleged date. - RBW
Harding B 11(3020)GreigDuncan1 152C verse 1 belongs to "The Plains of Waterloo (VIII)"; the other two verses belong to "The Plains of Waterloo (V)." - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: HHH015

Plains of Waterloo (VII), The


DESCRIPTION: Singer tells about her lover who "fought in Spain and Portugal and was slain at Waterloo." When Ireland fell he joined Bonaparte, promising to return and marry. "When Bathurst was taken" he went to Waterloo. She'll have no other man.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 2000 (Moylan)
KEYWORDS: love battle soldier death Napoleon
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Moylan 190, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
NOTES: Moylan considers this the same song as "The Plains of Waterloo" (VI), but then he argues against his own position: "Unlike most other Napoleonic songs found in Ireland and Britain, the hero of the song fights on Napoleon's side." Moylan's version of "The Plains of Waterloo" (VI) (Moylan 191) shares no lines with this ballad.
Moylan speculates that the Bathurst reference "may refer to Henry, the 3rd Earl of Bathurst, who was Secretary of State for the Colonies." There is a connection between "Bathurst" and Napoleon. The following statement is from the Napoleonic Society site: "It is our view that Liverpool, Castlereagh and Bathurst betrayed Napoleon by offering him asylum in England and then sending him off to St-Helena." Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (Foreign Secretary 1812-1822), Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool (Prime Minister 1812-1827), and Henry Bathurst (Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1812-1827) are the parties mentioned.
The ballad is recorded on one of the CD's issued around the time of the bicentenial of the 1798 Irish Rebellion. See:
Franke Harte and Donal Lunny, "My Love at Waterloo" (on Franke Harte and Donal Lunny, "My Name is Napoleon Bonaparte," Hummingbird Records HBCD0027 (2001))
Frank Harte's version resolves the Bathurst "problem." His verse is
When Badajoz was taken and our leaders all were dead,
The plain around in carnage lay to show how much we bled,
Ten thousand man lay in their gore and those who fled were few,
And we marched on to fight once more on the Plains of Waterloo.
Harte: "Badajoz ... is the capital of Badajoz province situated near the border with Portugal. The French captured it in 1811, and held it until the following year when it was retaken by the British, led by the Duke of Wellington." - BS
File: Moyl190

Plains of Waterloo (VIII), The


DESCRIPTION: "On the eighteenth day of June, my boys, Napoleon did advance." "The fight did last from ten o'clock until the close of day." The Belgians desert the Britons on the field but "the Prussians with the English join'd so nobly drubb'd their foe"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1856 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(91))
KEYWORDS: battle France Napoleon
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan1 153, "Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #5824
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(91), "Plains of Waterloo" ("On the eighteenth day of June, my boys, Napoleon did advance"), W. Jackson and Son (Birmingham), 1842-1855; also Harding B 11(3020), Harding B 25(1503), Firth b.25(507), Firth c.14(28), Firth c.14(7), Harding B 15(239a), "The Plains of Waterloo[!]"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Hanoverian March" (tune, per broadsides Bodleian Firth b.25(507), Firth c.14(28))
NOTES: Broadside Bodleian Harding B 11(91) is the basis for the description. - BS
The song conforms to the general outline of the Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon with most of his army attacked Wellington. He came fairly close to victory, but was defeated when the Prussian forces under Blucher arrived and gave the allies a decisive edge in numbers, guaranteeing a French defeat.
It should be noted that there was no nation of Belgium at the time of Waterloo; it was a later creation. Still, the army of Wellington did contain soldiers from this part of the Low Countries -- and he didn't trust them much, and made sure to alternate them with reliable English soldiers.
The times in the song are inaccurate. There was some minor fighting in the morning around the strong British position at Hougoumont (see David Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon, Macmillan, 1966, p. 1072, but Napoleon did not begin his big push until 1:00 p.m. on June 18, to let the ground dry out (Chandler, p. 1067). Few British forces were involved until the latter attack began. And even when Napoleon began his artillery bombardment, the British were mostly hidden behind a ridge line, keeping them safe (Chandler, p. 1073).
Fighting continued at some points of the line until 8:00 or 9:00 in the evening (Chandler, p. 1090), as the light faded. By that time, Napoleon's left was completely stalled (it had been stalled all day), his center had been repulsed, and his right had been bent back into a hairpin salient and was starting to crumble (see the map on pp. 1082-1083 of Chandler).
The French army was not completely ruined, as is sometimes asserted -- indeed, it did some good rearguard fighting -- but it was definitely defeated. Napoleon turned the task of rallying the troops over to Marshal Soult and prepared to head for Paris to try to hold his government together (Chandler, p. 1090). But though France was probably physically capable of fighting on, no one except Napoleon wanted to continue the fight. He ended up riding all the way into exile, and was sent to Saint Helena. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD1153

Plainte du Capitaine, La (The Captain's Lament)


DESCRIPTION: French. A wind blows the ship off course. The captain climbs the mainmast and finds the way home but is thrown into the sea. He is sorry to leave his family. At his burial he wants the crew to sing that he died on the deadly sea.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1959 (Peacock)
KEYWORDS: foreignlanguage death sea ship storm children mother wife sailor mourning separation funeral
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Peacock, pp. 161-162, "La Plainte du Capitaine" (1 text, 1 tune)
File: Pea161

Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Deportee)


DESCRIPTION: Once the crop is gathered in, the illegal workers who harvested them can be sent back to Mexico. They are taken and separated and put on a plane across the border. The plane catches fire and crashes over Los Gatos; the Mexicans are killed
AUTHOR: Words: Woody Guthrie / Music: Martin Hoffman
EARLIEST DATE: 1961
KEYWORDS: death disaster foreigner work political flying crash exile emigration
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Jan 28, 1948 - The Los Gatos plane crash
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Scott-BoA, pp. 367-369, "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" (1 text, 1 tune)
Greenway-AFP, pp. 294-295, "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" (1 text)
DT, DEPORTE*
RECORDINGS:
Pete Seeger, "Deportee" (on PeteSeeger41)
File: SBoA367

Plant, Plant the Tree


DESCRIPTION: Freedom's sun is rising for Ireland. "Despotic sway from France is chas'd, And church delusion's vanish'd"; Ireland needs the same. "Plant ... fair Freedom's Tree." The French will help. "Erin Go Bragh" will replace "God Save the King." Wars will end
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1790s (Zimmermann)
KEYWORDS: rebellion France Ireland political
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Zimmermann 5, "Plant, Plant the Tree" (1 text, 1 tune)
Moylan 19, "Plant, Plant the Tree" (1 text, 1 tune)
NOTES: Evidently a reference to the events of the 1790s, when the French Revolution seemed to portend freedom for many nations. The irony is that instead it led to the Reign of Terror, and Napoleon, and not much else. Indeed, Ireland would see her freedom reduced; since 1782, she had had some internal autonomy under Grattan's Parliament (see the notes to "Ireland's Glory"). But the French were in fact very little help (see the notes to "The Shan Van Voght"), and Ireland would suffer first the 1798 rebellion and then the Union of the Parliaments. - RBW
File: Zimm005

Plantonio


See Pattonia, the Pride of the Plains [Laws B12] (File: LB12)

Platonia


See Pattonia, the Pride of the Plains [Laws B12] (File: LB12)

Platte River Girl, The


See Jack Haggerty (The Flat River Girl) [Laws C25] (File: LC25)

Pleasant and Delightful


DESCRIPTION: On a "pleasant and delightful" midsummer's morn, a sailor bids farewell to his true love. She gives him a token, and begs to come along with him. He forbids it, but promises that they will be wed "if ever I return again."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1841 (broadside, Bodleian 2806 c.18(276))
KEYWORDS: love farewell ring separation
FOUND IN: Britain(England,Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
GreigDuncan1 64, "The Sailor and His True Love" (12 texts, 10 tunes)
DT, PLESDELT*
Roud #660
RECORDINGS:
Sam Larner, "Happy and Delightful" (on SLarner02)
Cyril Poacher, "A Sailor and His True Love" (on Voice02)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 2806 c.18(276), "The Sailor and his Truelove" ("As a young sailor and his truelove one morning in May"), J. Jennings (London), 1790-1840; also Firth c.12(147), Harding B 17(266b), "Sailor and his Truelove"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Farewell, Charming Nancy [Laws K14]" (plot, lyrics)
cf. "The Bold Privateer" [Laws O32] (meter)
cf. "The Soldier and the Sailor" (meter)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Mary Ann
Charming Mary Ann
NOTES: This song shares many similarities with "Farewell, Charming Nancy" [Laws K14]; it is not impossible that they have a common ancestor. But the degree of difference is now so large that, until an intermediate version shows up, I must regard them as separate. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: DTplesde

Please Have Mercy on a Longtime Man


DESCRIPTION: "Well I went to the Captain, with my hat in my hand, Said, 'A-Lordy, have mercy, on a longtime man.... He spit on the ground." The singer recalls the poor food, says that his parents lied about earning him a pardon, and complains of prison life
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1964 (vollected from Louis Houston and Matt Williams by Jackson)
KEYWORDS: prison nonballad floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Jackson-DeadMan, pp. 88-91, "Please Have Mercy on a Longtime Man" (3 texts, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Godalmighty Drag" (lyrics)
NOTES: Jackson notes that his informants regard his three texts as three different songs. In terms of content, they are right -- each version is distinct, and while any two versions have words in common, there is hardly anything common to the three. But they have the same tune, and the rest seems to be more the result of the extreme fluidity of prison songs than anything else. Given that all three versions seem to be largely unique, it didn't seem worthwhile to split them. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: JDM088

Please, Don't Burn Our Shithouse Down


DESCRIPTION: The singer pleads for his/her outhouse, chronicling the family's woes, and promises to pay [tax?].
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1733 (Thomson's Orpheus Caledonius)
KEYWORDS: bawdy family humorous scatological
FOUND IN: Australia Canada Britain(England,Scotland) Ireland US(ubiquitous) New Zealand
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Cray, pp. 109-111, "Please, Don't Burn Our Shithouse Down" (5 texts, 1 tune)
Randolph-Legman I, pp. 191-195, "Finest Fucking Family" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Roud #10270
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "My God, How the Money Rolls In"
cf. "My Daddy's a Delver of Dykes"
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Finest Fucking Family in the Land
My Father Was Hung for Sheep-Stealing (as a Horse Thief)
File: EM109

Please, Mister Conductor (The Lightning Express)


DESCRIPTION: The conductor demands a boy's ticket. He has none. He went to work in the city to pay for his mother's care, but now she is dying. He has no fare, but is going to be with her; he begs the conductor to let him stay. The passengers chip in to pay his fare.
AUTHOR: J. Fred Helf (?) and E. P. Moran
EARLIEST DATE: 1898 (copright)
KEYWORDS: mother disease age separation train help
FOUND IN: US(So,SW)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Cohen-LSRail, pp. 321-325, "Please, Mr. Conductor/The Lightning Express" (1 text, 1 tune)
Randolph 720, "Please, Mister Conductor" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 468-470, "Please, Mister Conductor" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 720A)
Roud #7389
RECORDINGS:
Fiddlin' John Carson, "The Lightning Express" (OKeh 7008, 1924)
Johnny & Albert Crockett, "Lightnin' Express" (Crown 3074, 1930)
Pete Daley's Arkansas Fiddlers, "Lightning Express" (Varsity 5078, n.d.)
Vernon Dalhart, "Lightning Express" (Banner 1594, 1925) (Challenge 165/Challenge 320, 1927) (Champion 15017, 1925) (Victor 19837, 1925)
Byron G. Harlan "Please, Mr. Conductor, Don't Put Me Off The Train" (CYL: Edison 7219, 1903)
Jim Holbert, "The Lightning Express" (AFS 4130 B2, 1940; on LC61)
Frank Hutchison, "Lightning Express" (OKeh 45144, 1927)
Bradley Kincaid, "The Lightning Express" (Melotone 12184, 1931; Vocalion 02683, 1934)
Asa Martin, "East Bound Train" (Champion 15585/Supertone 9178, 1928) (Conqueror 7837, 1931; Broadway 4086 [as Martin & Roberts], n.d.)
Lester McFarland & Robert Gardner, "The East Bound Train" (Vocalion 5174/Vocalion 5200/Brunswick 169/Brunswick 326, 1928; Supertone S-2032, 1930; rec. 1927); "The Lightning Express" (Brunswick 200, 1928; Brunswick 326, 1929; rec. 1927)
Nelstone's Hawaiians, "North Bound Train" (Victor V-40065, 1929)
Riley Puckett, "East Bound Train" (Columbia 15747-D, 1932)
George Reneau, "The Lightning Express" (Vocalion 5056/Vocalion 14991, 1925; Silvertone 3045 [as George Hobson], 1924)
Mervin Shiner, "The Lightning Express" (Decca 46272, 1950)
Ernest V. Stoneman "The Lightning Express" (OKeh 40408, 1925) (Edison 52299, 1928)
Arthur Tanner, "The Lightning Express Train" (Puritan 9160, n.d. but prob. c. 1926)
Ernest Thompson, "The Lightning Express" (Columbia 145-D, 1924)
Wesley Tuttle, "The Lightning Express" (Coral 64068, 1950)
Dock Walsh, "The East Bound Train" (Columbia 15047-D, 1925)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Going for a Pardon" (plot)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The East Bound Train
NOTES: The sheet music of this is obscure enough (or illegible enough) that the first author is various listed as "H. Fred Delf" and J. Fred Helf. I've tentatively listed the latter in the "author" field, since it's the form Norm Cohen uses, and he's more authoritative than any of the other sources.
The memory of Delf/Helf and Moran is quite obscure; their copyright was not renewed, and we find the song being re-copyrighted in 1925 by Triangle Music Publishing, with no reference to the original authors; they credited to the universal pseudonym E. V. Body. - RBW
File: R720

Plooin' match here I'll insert, A


See The Tyrie Plooin' Match (File: GdD3424)

Plooin' Match, The


DESCRIPTION: The ploughmen meet at (Hilton) to have a contest. The various ploughmen are listed, along with the way they competed. The song concludes, "The judges cam frae far an' near... But some wad say their sicht was puir That day among the ploomen."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1911 (GreigDuncan3)
KEYWORDS: farming racing humorous moniker contest
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Greig #163, p. 1, "The Plooin' Match" (1 text)
GreigDuncan3 422, "The Plooin' Match" (1 text)
Ord, p. 239-241, "The Ploughing Match" (1 text)
Roud #5581
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Whistle Owre the Lave o't" (tune, per Greig)
cf. "The Fyvie Ploughmen" (subject: ploughing match)
cf. "Harrowing Time" (subject: ploughing match)
NOTES: Ord observes that "When singing this song the singer generally puts in the names of persons known to his audience.... The locus of the match has also been forgotten." And, indeed, Grieg's versions have no name. - RBW
See Ord for the names of the participants. Greig and GreigDuncan3 use letters, in sequence -- A.B., B.C., ... -- instead of names. - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: Ord239

Plooman Geordie


See Geordie's Courtship (I Wad Rather a Garret) (File: Ord204B)

Plooman Laddie (I), The


DESCRIPTION: "My love's a plooman and follows the ploo, I promised to him and I'll keep it true.... What's better than a plooman?" The singer rejects many (e.g. "I micht hae gotten the miller... But the smell o' the dust wad had done me ill") and rejoices to be wed
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1907 (GreigDuncan3)
KEYWORDS: love courting farming rejection
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Greig #130, p. 1, "The Plooman Laddie" (1 text)
GreigDuncan3 445, "The Plooman Laddie" (5 texts, 4 tunes)
Ord, pp. 223-224, "The Plooman Laddie" (1 text)
Roud #3447
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Husbandman and the Servingman" (theme)
cf. "The Farmer and the Shanty Boy" (theme)
cf. "Soldier Boy for Me (A Railroader for Me)" (theme)
cf. "The Rigs o' Rye" (tune, per Greig)
cf. "My Love's a Plooman" (lyrics)
cf. "Yon Bonnie Lad" (theme)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
I Micht Hae Gotten
The Ploughman
NOTES: Ord lists this as being sung to "The Rigs o Rye." The tune I've heard isn't quite that, though it's close. - RBW
Greig's text is "a piecing together of two or three versions, none of which is complete, but each of which provides something of its own." But at Greig #135, p. 3, "[M.S. (Mrs Sangster according to GreigDuncan3)] says that the first verse 'My love is a ploughman and follows the plough, etc.,' is another song altogether from "I mith hae gotten the gairner o' yonder tree, etc.' although they were combined in our version. The songs are different, shes ays[sic], and have different tunes. This we can well believe, these songs get so mixed up." - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: Ord223

Plooman Laddie (II), The


See My Love's a Plooman (File: GrD3446)

Ploughboy (I), The


DESCRIPTION: In this confused composite of floating verses, the ploughboy courts Molly, but then departs to become a soldier. He will build Molly a castle and take her away. She nonetheless rejects him
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1928 (Sam Henry collection); c1810? (_English Minstrel_, according to Yates, Musical Traditions site _Voice of the People suite_ "Notes - Volume 5" - 25.8.02)
KEYWORDS: love courting rejection soldier flowers floatingverses
FOUND IN: Ireland Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
SHenry H780, p. 345-346, "The Ploughboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1446
RECORDINGS:
Lizzie Higgins, "Lovely Molly" (on Voice05)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Green Grows the Laurel (Green Grow the Lilacs)" (floating lyrics)
cf. "The Streams of Lovely Nancy" (floating lyrics)
cf. "The Blackbird and Thrush" (theme)
NOTES: This song consists almost entirely of floating material (see the cross-references), and is fairly incoherent as a result. The largest element is "Green Grows the Laurel" (to such an extent that it's almost a version of that song), but there are plenty of other elements. The composite probably didn't circulate widely as an independent entity. - RBW
"[O]ne source credits Charles Dibdin as its author," according to Yates, Musical Traditions site Voice of the People suite "Notes - Volume 5" - 25.8.02. - BS
My guess would be that Dibdin is responsible for some of the floating material; on that basis, I have not listed him in the "author" field, even as a possibility. - RBW
File: HHH780

Ploughboy (II), The


See The Lark in the Morning (File: ShH62)

Ploughboy of the Lowlands, The


See Edwin (Edmund, Edward) in the Lowlands Low [Laws M34] (File: LM34)

Ploughboy's Dream, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer, a ploughboy, recalls a dream: he tries unsuccessfully to plow hard ground and curses and beats his horses; an angel stops him warning "there's One that knows your crimes and sins." He warns other ploughboy lads to "let kindness your motto be"
AUTHOR: William Mason (source: broadside Bodleian Harding B 7(44))
EARLIEST DATE: 1795 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 7(44))
KEYWORDS: warning abuse farming dream religious horse
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Greig #54, pp. 1-2, "The Ploughboy's Dream" (1 text)
GreigDuncan3 491, "The Ploughboy's Dream" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1545
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 7(44), "The Plow-boy's Dream" ("I am a plow-boy stout and strong"), J. Marshall (London), 1795; also Harding B 11(3032), "The Ploughboy's Dream"
NOTES: This is surely a rewrite of the story of Balaam's Ass, applied to a farmer's situation. In Numbers 22:22-35, Balaam has been hired by the King of Moab to try to curse Israel. On the way, the donkey first turns off into a field, then crushes Balaam's foot against a rock, then stop still in the middle of the path. Balaam each time strikes it, but on the third time the donkey speaks, and an angel tells Balaam that the donkey had kept him from being killed by the angel. Balaam repents of his treatment of the donkey. The song lacks the incident of the horses talking, but the rest -- including the moral against sinning -- is the same. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD3491

Ploughing Match (I), The


See The Plooin' Match (File: Ord239)

Ploughing Match (II), The


See Then Some wi Pins (File: GrD3423)

Ploughing Match at Bucharn, The


DESCRIPTION: "John Geggie's man he cocked his hat When he began to smele thereat That he was foremost of the lot And judged to be the rarest."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1907 (GreigDuncan8)
KEYWORDS: contest farming racing
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan8 1882, "The Ploughing Match at Bucharn" (1 fragment)
Roud #13568
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Ah, Smiler Lad" (ploughing match)
cf. "Dalmuir Ploughing Match" (ploughing match)
cf. "The Inverquhomery Ploughing Match" (ploughing match)
cf. "The Plooin' Match" (ploughing match)
cf. "The Tyrie Plooin' Match" (ploughing match)
NOTES: The current description is all of the GreigDuncan8 fragment.
The singer recalled that this fragment was from "an old song in regard to a ploughing match at Bucharn." - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: GrD81882

Ploughman (I), The


DESCRIPTION: "The ploughman, he's a bonnie lad, And does his wark at leisure... Then up wi't noo, my ploughman lad, And hey my merry ploughman." The singer describes her ploughman's work, and the work she does to keep him well, and scorns those who scorn him
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: in traditional form 1906 (GreigDuncan3); Burns rewrote it for the Scots Musical Museum
KEYWORDS: work marriage nonballad farming
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
GreigDuncan3 451, "Commend Me to the Plooman" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ord, p. 217, "The Ploughman" (1 text)
Roud #5582
NOTES: The GreigDuncan3 tune is very close to "The Boyne Water." - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: Ord217

Ploughman (II), The


DESCRIPTION: Singer, a ploughman, praises his fellows, his profession and his recreations.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1904
KEYWORDS: work drink nonballad farming
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Vaughan Williams/Lloyd, p. 84, "The Ploughman" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, PLOUGHM4*
Roud #2538
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "I am a Pretty Wench"
NOTES: This is a muddled song. As collected in 1904, the singer began with a verse from "The Condescending Lass" (a song in which the lass in question rejects the idea of marrying men of various professions). He veered off immediately, however, into a praiseful description of ploughmen, and the lass is not heard from again. [Vaughan Williams and Lloyd] excised the seemingly-unconnected first verse and assigned the present title (the singer had called it "Pretty Wench"). -PJS
[For that "Pretty Wench" song, see "I am a Pretty Wench." The title "The Condescending Lass" for the poem appears to be known primarily from broadsides; the typical traditional title is either "Pretty Wench" or "I Am a Pretty Wench." - RBW]
To tell this from other songs in praise of farmhands, consider this first stanza:
"A ploughman dresses fine, he drinks strong beer ale and wine
And the best of tobacco he do smoke;
Pretty maids don't think amiss a ploughman for to kiss,
For his breath smells as sweet as a rose, a rose, a rose
For his breath smells as sweet as a rose." - RBW
It appears Roud would have Opie-Oxford2 525, "I am a pretty wench" be the verse excised by Vaughan Williams and Lloyd. Roud has other examples as well under #2538. Opie-Oxford2 notes that this song is in Alfred Williams Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames (1923) and that Vaughan Williams did collect it. If we ever add one of those "The Pretty Wench" songs it should probably considered separate from "The Ploughman." - BS
File: VWL084

Ploughman Chiel and the Ploughman Laddie, The


DESCRIPTION: "The ploughman chiel and the ploughman laddie, Are you afraid of the ploughman laddie? Are you afraid that he'll do you wrong, Na nae a bit for he'll do me none"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (GreigDuncan3)
KEYWORDS: farming questions
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan3 416, "The Ploughman Chiel and the Ploughman Laddie" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
Roud #5937
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Ploughman Laddie
NOTES: The current description is all of the GreigDuncan3 entry. - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD416

Ploughman Lad for Me, A


DESCRIPTION: "Where first I saw my Jockie, Was at (Huntly) feeing fair." She praises his beauty, declaring, "So a ploughman lad for me." She cares not what her parents think, and is willing to work hard alongside him; his love is worth more than riches
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1860 (broadside NLScotland L.C.Fol.178.A.2(023))
KEYWORDS: love courting farming
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ord, pp. 280-281, "A Ploughman Lad for Me" (1 text)
BROADSIDES:
NLScotland, L.C.Fol.178.A.2(023), "The Ploughman Lads for Me," James Lindsay (Glasgow), 1852-1859 [despite the title, the song text refers "a ploughman lad," not "lads"]
NOTES: Credited to John Wilson in the NLScotland broadside -- which, interestingly, leaves blank the name of the city in which the couple meets. - RBW
File: Ord280

Ploughman Laddie, The


See Collier Laddie, The (File: Ord040A)

Plowboy, The


See Cupid the Plowboy [Laws O7] (File: LO07)

Plowboy's Courtship, The


See Queen of the May (File: SWMS190)

Pluie Tombe, La


DESCRIPTION: Creole French: "La pluie tombe, Crapeau chante, Oin, oin! oin, oin! oin, oin! M'a pale baigner moine, La pluie tombe, Marin-gouin crie...." As the rain falls, the frog an the mosquito call the singer into the water (and drown)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (Scarborough)
KEYWORDS: foreignlanguage animal bug drowning
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Scarborough-NegroFS, pp. 203-204, "La Pluie Tombe" (1 short text, 1 tune)
File: ScaNF203

Plumb and Level, The


DESCRIPTION: "When Adam ruled the world" he and Eve "formed a bower to shade them from the weather's evil." "They lived in social harmony till madam longed for fruit ... And the bit she went out one morning for to meet the deevil"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1917 (GreigDuncan3)
KEYWORDS: Bible Devil food
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan3 472, "The Plumb and Level" (1 fragment)
Roud #5968
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 2806 c.13(205), "The Tower of Babel" ("When Adam ruled the world by an order from the Grand"), unknown, no date
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Building of Solomon's Temple" [Laws Q39] (theme: Building the First Temple)
cf. "The Rules of Masonry" (theme: Building the First Temple)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Adam and Eve
NOTES: Apparently Broadside Bodleian, 2806 c.13(205), "The Tower of Babel" ... is this song but I could not download and verify it. On the small image of the broadside that is visible, the broadside has at least eight verses compared to GreigDuncan's 2 verses. The lines I can make out for verses one and two seem very close to GreigDuncan3. - BS
I was able to download it, but large portions of the scan are unreadable. It lists as a tune "The old Orange [something]" (not "flute." "Order," perhaps?). The first verse tells the story of the fall of Adam and Eve, as described above; this tale is in Genesis 3 (though it never says Eve met the Devil; she met the Serpent).
Greig's decision to file this with the Masonic songs seems justified, since it refers to the "plumb gauge and level."
The next few verses refer to Noah building an ark with square gauge and level, and to forty days of rain. The tale of the flood occupies Genesis 6-8, with the "forty days" being mentioned e.g. in Genesis 7:4.
The next verse, which is probably about the Tower of Babel, has been obliterated. The story of the Tower is in Genesis 11.
Then we come to Solomon. This song, like "The Building of Solomon's Temple" [Laws Q39] and "The Rules of Masonry," hints at Solomon being a mason. But the building of the Temple is described in chapters 5-8 of 1 Kings (and 2 Chronicles chapters 2-6 with a foreshadowing in 1 Chron. 28-29). But it clearly was not built by masons; it was probably designed by Phoenicians (note that this song mentions "Hiram King of Tyre," the leading Phoenician monarch), and certainly constructed by slaves.
The final verse refers to "The widow's murdered son" who "masonic power displayed." I *think* this is a reference to Jesus, who of course was considered to have been murdered. Legend, based on the fact that the gospels mention Mary but not Joseph during Jesus's adult ministry, has it that Mary outlived Joseph, making her a widow. As for Jesus showing Masonic power, John 2:19 has Jesus say, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (with verse 2:21 explaining that "he was speaking of the temple of his body"); in Mark 14:58 and parallels we read that Jesus was charged with saying "I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days build another not made with hands." - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD3472

Plumb the Line


DESCRIPTION: "Well, I'm so glad I can plumb the line (x3), It takes a number one (driver/tamper) to plumb the line." "Won't you come on, buddy, we can plumb the line." The singer describes his exploits, or asks for help in his work
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1965 (recorded from "Chinaman" Johnson and from Favid Tippett by Jackson)
KEYWORDS: work bragging prison
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Jackson-DeadMan, pp. 218-222, "Plumb the Line" (3 texts, 2 tunes); pp. 280-281, "Down the Line" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #10979
NOTES: Jackson thinks that "Plumb the Line" may have originated as a tie-tamping song, and I think it nearly certain -- at least, it is certain that it has close analogies among tampers. But it seems to have become a specialized prison song.
Jackson's "Down the Line" is used for a different purpose (flatweeding rather than crosscutting), but in Jacskon's versions, the similarities are so great that they can still be treated as one song. Whether that would remain true after future evolution is another question, but given the rarity of both songs, it's not worth splitting at this time. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: JDM218

Po' Boy (I)


DESCRIPTION: "My mammy's in the cold cold ground, My daddy went away... now I've gone astray. I sit here in the prison, I do the best I can, But I get to thinkin' of the woman I love; She ran away with another man." The singer tried to rob a mail train, but was caught
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Sandburg)
KEYWORDS: prison crime robbery punishment separation
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Sandburg, pp. 30-32, "Po' Boy" (1 text, 1 tune)
File: San030

Po' Boy (II)


See The Cryderville Jail (File: LxU090)

Po' Farmer


DESCRIPTION: "Work all week, don't make enough To pay my board and buy my snuff... It's a-hard on we po' farmers, it's a-hard." The farmer describes the long day's work -- only to come home to "peas in the pot and an old jaw-bone" and fifteen cents weekly pay
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1941
KEYWORDS: work farming hardtimes poverty
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Lomax-FSNA 284, "Po' Farmer" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, POFARMER*
Roud #6709
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Humble Farmer" (theme)
File: LoF284

Po' Laz'us


See Poor Lazarus (Bad Man Lazarus) [Laws I12] (File: LI12)

Po' Li'l Ella


DESCRIPTION: "I'll tell you somep'n that bothers my mind: Po' li'l Ella laid down an' died." "I wouldn't a-minded little Ella dyin', But she left three chillum." "Judge, you dome me wrong, Ninety-nine years is sho' too long!"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (Scarborough)
KEYWORDS: death murder children punishment prison judge
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Scarborough-NegroFS, pp. 278-279, "Po' Li'l Ella" (1 text, 1 tune)
NOTES: Scarborough claims this is "a favorite in East Texas sawmill districts." But I've seen no other signs of it. - RBW
File: ScNF278B

Po' Lil Jesus


See Poor Little Jesus (File: LxU101)

Po' Liza Jane


DESCRIPTION: "Go long, po' Liza Jane (x2), I turned my head to the ole grey horse, Go long po' Liza Jane." "I ast her would she marry me; She ast me wasn't I shamed." "I went up to the new-cut road, And she went down the lane."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1952 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: courting horse floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
BrownIII 456, "Po' Liza Jane" (1 short text)
Fuson, p. 172, "Liza Jane" (1 text, with a "Cindy...Cindy Jane" chorus)
Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 169, (no title) (1 text, with verses probably from "Raccoon," unless they just floated in, while the chorus seems to be "Po' Liza Jane")
MHenry-Appalachians, p. 237, (no title) (1 fragment, about a Yankee and a toad, which might be this or any of the songs to which the verse floats)
Roud #825
NOTES: This reminds me a bit of "Goodbye Liza Jane (I)," but based on the short text in Brown, it does not appear possible to identify it with any of the other Liza Jane songs (though Roud lumps it). - RBW
File: Br3456

Po' Mournah!


See Mourner, You Shall Be Free (Moanish Lady) (File: San011)

Po' Shine


DESCRIPTION: "You can't do me like you done po' Shine, Paid off everybody and you didn't pay Shine." About the hard times on a work crew. Shine departs seeking better work, and finally the workers are paid. Some elements float
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1944 (Wheeler)
KEYWORDS: work hardtimes boss travel
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
MWheeler, pp. 17-18, "Po Shine" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST MWhee017 (Full)
Roud #9995
File: MWhee017

Poacher (I), The


See The Lincolnshire Poacher (File: K259)

Poacher (II), The


See O'Ryan (Orion, The Poacher) (File: HHH823)

Poacher of Benabourd, The


See The Braemar Poacher (File: GrD2253)

Poacher's Fate, The [Laws L14]


DESCRIPTION: (Six) young men go out hunting. They are met by a gamekeeper, who vows to shoot one of them to end their depredations. The keeper fatally wounds "the bravest lad."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1842 (broadside, Bodleian Firth b.34(118))
KEYWORDS: death poaching punishment
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland,England) US(MW,NE) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Laws L14, "The Poacher's Fate"
Kennedy 248, "The Gallant Poacher" (1 text, 1 tune)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 351-352, "The Poacher's Fate" (1 text; tune on p. 451)
DT 351, POACHERF
Roud #793
RECORDINGS:
Walter Pardon, "The Poachers' Fate" (on Voice18)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Firth b.34(118), "Gallant Poacher" ("Come all you lads of high renoun"), Birt (London), 1833-1841; also Harding B 11(325), Harding B 11(3853), Firth c.19(49), "[The] Gallant Poacher"; Johnson Ballads 1394, "Gallant Poachers"
Murray, Mu23-y4:020, "Gallant Poachers," unknown, 19C
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Keepers and Poachers" (plot)
File: LL14

Poachers, The


See Van Dieman's Land (I) [Laws L18] (File: LL18)

Point Maid, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer's father was a farmer, but he must leave his home, his work, and his girl. As he makes his way to the port, he thinks of drowned sailors and his lost sweetheart. He hopes to return, though he would not care if the girl were with him
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1924 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: emigration separation farewell
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
SHenry H42b, p. 197, "The Point Maid" (1 text, 1 tune)
File: HHH042b

Poison in a Glass of Wine


See Oxford City [Laws P30] (File: LP30)

Pokegama Bear


DESCRIPTION: Lumbermen encounter the Pokegama bear. Morris O'Hearne tells the men to run; (they have humorous accidents). Mike McAlpin kills the bear with an axe; the grease is divided up among the men, and the meat cooked and eaten.
AUTHOR: Frank Hasty (words)
EARLIEST DATE: 1874 (composed)
LONG DESCRIPTION: A crew of lumbermen encounters the Pokegama bear. Morris O'Hearne, who first flushes him, tells the men to run; Jimmy Quinn runs into a porcupine. The bear heads for the swamp; O'Hearne follows, but slips and falls under it. Mike McAlpin chases down and kills the bear with an axe; the grease is divided up among the men, and the meat cooked and eaten. O'Hearne gets the skin; "Long life to you and long growth to your hair/When it's greased with the fat from Pokegama Bear"
KEYWORDS: lumbering work moniker animal logger worker humorous
FOUND IN: US(MW)
RECORDINGS:
Art Thieme, "Pokegama Bear" (on Thieme06)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Vilikens and his Dinah (William and Dinah) [Laws M31A/B]" (tune & meter) and references there
NOTES: Pokegama Lake is a very wide area of the upper Mississippi River. - PJS
Paul Stamler didn't list this as a humorous item, but the versions I recall hearing (I think from John Berquist, though I've heard other Minnesotans mention it) generally have comic aspects as the loggers flee the bear. The tune seems to have wandered a bit, too, though that may just be my memory.
It should be noted that it is highly unlikely that a really dangerous bear would be encountered in Minnesota. The only bears which come anywhere near the state are black bears; a gang of loggers could certainly handle *one* black bear! But the Pokegama region is features some of the harshest winter weather in Minnesota. Climatologist Mark W. Sealy, Minnesota Weather Almanac, Minnesota Historical Society, 2006, p. 55, writes of the weather station there, "The weather station at Pokegama Dam, along the Mississippi River, was established in April 1887.... Pokegama's reputation as one of Minnesota's coldest spots is bolstered by more than 30 low temperatures records, including the following: coldest temperature recorded in March... coldest-ever November temperature... and coldest-ever December temperature... Temperatures of -50 [degrees] F and colder have been recorded 30 times, the coldest being -59 [degrees] F on February 16, 1903. From January to February in back-to-back years, 1904 and 1905, Pokegama Dam recorded 31 consecutive days of temperatures below zero."
Thus one might suspect that the legend of the Pokegama Bear actually arose as an excuse to get out of the cold. - RBW
File: RcPokegB

'Poleon Dore


DESCRIPTION: French-Canadian dialect song. Singer describes working in a lumber camp. Paul Desjardins falls into rapids; oars do not reach him. Napoleon Dore dives in. Both drown in a whirlpool. Their bodies are found in each other's arms. They are buried together.
AUTHOR: William Henry Drummond
EARLIEST DATE: 1897 (Drummond, The Habitant)
LONG DESCRIPTION: French-Canadian dialect song. Singer first describes (at length) the pleasures and comradeship of working in a lumber camp, then tells story. Paul Desjardins falls overboard in rapids; after his workmates fail to save him with their oars, Napoleon Dore dives in, but both are caught in a whirlpool and drowned. Their bodies are found in each other's arms, and they are buried together.
KEYWORDS: lumbering work death friend logger drowning
FOUND IN: US(MW)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Beck 74, "'Poleon Dore" (1 text)
ADDITIONAL: William Henry Drummond, M.D., _The Habitant and other French Canadian Poems_, Putnam, 1897, pp. 37-43, "'Poleon Dore'" (1 text)
ST Be074 (Partial)
Roud #8869
NOTES: Is there something left unsaid here? I can't tell.
The correct title of the song is "'Poleon Doré." - RBW
Last updated in version 2.5
File: Be074

Poll and Sal


See When the Boys Go A-Courting (Over the Mountain, Poll and Sal) (File: SWMS312)

Polly and Willie


See No Sign of a Marriage [Laws P3] (File: LP03)

Polly Bond


See Molly Bawn (Shooting of His Dear) [Laws O36] (File: LO36)

Polly Brannigan (Molly Brannigan)


DESCRIPTION: The singer confesses that Polly Brannigan "stole me heart and I'll never be a man again." Now she has left him; he wishes that "when she got another heart she might send mine back home again." (Considering suicice, he hopes she will grieve when he dies)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1901 (O'Conor)
KEYWORDS: love rejection suicide
FOUND IN: US(MW) Ireland
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Munnelly/Deasy-Lenihan 34, "Purty Molly Brannigan" (2 texts, 1 tune)
O'Conor, p. 41, "Molly Brallaghan" (1 text)
Eddy 153, (fifth of several "Fragments of Irish Songs")
Silber-FSWB, p. 181, "Molly Brannigan" (1 text)
DT, MOLLBRAN
Roud #13375 (and 5354)
RECORDINGS:
Tom Lenihan, "Purty Molly Brannigan" (on IRTLenihan01)
NOTES: There is a sense that the singer is naive and that we are supposed, at least, to smile behind his back. For example, in Munnelly/Deasy-Lenihan he asks advice of Father Mc Donald and Counsellor O'Connell who "told me promise-breaches had been ever since the world began: Now I've only one pair, ma'am, and they are corduroy! ... Must my corduroys to Molly go? ... I can't afford to lose both my heart and ould britches too." - BS
File: E153E

Polly Oliver (Pretty Polly) [Laws N14]


DESCRIPTION: Polly loves a sea captain; her parents do not. She dresses as a man and follows her love. Still in disguise, she meets him at an inn. The captain wishes to sleep with her; she refuses, but appears the next day in her own clothes. The two are wed
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1820 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 17(240b))
KEYWORDS: courting disguise marriage cross-dressing
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,MW,NE,SE,So) Canada(Mar,Newf) Ireland
REFERENCES (17 citations):
Laws N14, "Polly Oliver (Pretty Polly)"
Belden, pp. 183-185, "Polly Oliver" (2 texts)
Friedman, p. 145, "Polly Oliver's Rambles" (1 text, 1 tune)
SHenry H166, pp. 328-329, "Lovely Annie (II)" (1 text, 1 tune)
JHCox 122, "Pretty Polly" (1 text)
Linscott, pp. 273-274, "Polly Oliver" (1 short text, 1 tune, ending with the meeting in the inn)
BrownII 97, "Polly Oliver" (1 text)
Gardner/Chickering 60, "Pretty Polly Oliver" (1 text plus mention of 1 more)
Creighton/Senior, pp. 195-198, "Pretty Polly" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Greenleaf/Mansfield 23, "Polly Oliver" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Peacock, pp. 344-345, "Polly Oliver" (1 text, 1 tune)
Leach-Labrador 28, "Polly Oliver" (1 text, 1 tune)
Mackenzie 55, "Polly Oliver" (1 text)
SharpAp 54, "Polly Oliver" (3 texts, 3 tunes)
Chappell/Wooldridge II, p. 181, "Pretty Polly Oliver" (1 tune, probably of this piece though the text is lacking)
BBI, ZN2180, "One night as Polly Oliver lay musing on her bed"
DT 446, POLLOLVR*
Roud #367
RECORDINGS:
Ollie Gilbert, "Pretty Polly Oliver" (on LomaxCD1707)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 17(240b), "Polly Oliver's Ramble," J. Pitts (London), 1802-1819; also Harding B 17(241b), Harding B 16(205d), Harding B 11(3147), Harding B 25(1518)[some lines illegible], "Polly Oliver's Ramble"; Harding B 28(238), "Polly Oliver"; Harding B 17(241a), Harding B 16(206b), Harding B 15(241a), Harding B 15(241b), Firth c.26(50), 2806 c.17(337)[words missing], 2806 b.11(260), 2806 c.16(61), Firth c.14(169), Harding B 16(206a), 2806 c.14(10)[many illegible words], Harding B 15(240b), "Polly Oliver's Rambles"
File: LN14

Polly on the Shore (The Valiant Sailor)


DESCRIPTION: The sailor warns others about bad company. While out roaming, he is pressed to sea. Soon his ship meets a (French) vessel; he is mortally injured. He recalls his beloved Polly on shore, says he is dying for her, and hopes the sailors will be remembered
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1744 (The Irish Boy's Garland)
KEYWORDS: sailor love pressgang farewell warning death fight dying
FOUND IN: US(NE) Britain(England) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Warner 57, "The Press Gang Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune)
Creighton-Maritime, p. 87, "The Neat Irish Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, (POLSHORE) PRSSGANG
Roud #811
RECORDINGS:
George Maynard, "Polly on the Shore" (on Maynard1, HiddenE, Voice12)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Press Gang
File: Wa057

Polly Perkins of Paddington Green


DESCRIPTION: The singer describes beautiful Polly, whom he vainly loved. She teases and flirts, but declares, "The man that has me must have silver and gold." He gives up his courtship -- but later learns that she did not marry a lord but a "bow-legged conductor."
AUTHOR: Harry Clifton (source: GreigDuncan6)
EARLIEST DATE: before 1886 (broadside, Bodleian Firth b.26(314))
KEYWORDS: love courting rejection money beauty
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber)) Ireland
REFERENCES (4 citations):
GreigDuncan6 1212, "Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green" (3 texts)
SHenry H132, pp. 398-399, "Polly Perkins of Paddington Green" (1 text, 1 tune)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 282-288, "The Butcher Boy" (8 texts; the "E" text is a single stanza which does not belong with the usual "Butcher Boy" versions and which does mention Polly Perkins, so it might be related to this song)
DT, PLLYPRK*
Roud #430
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Firth b.26(314), "Polly Perkins of Paddington Green" ("I'm a broken hearted milkman, in grief I'm arrayed"), H. Such (London), 1863-1885; also Harding B 16(206c), Harding B 11(3384), "Polly Perkins, of Paddington Green"
SAME TUNE:
Cushie Butterfield (Peter Davison, _Songs of The British Music Hall_, Oak, 1971, pp. 30-31)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Pretty Polly Perkins
Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green
NOTES: GreigDuncan6: "Composed by the music hall performer, Harry Clifton and published in 1856." - BS
For background on Clifton, see the notes to "The Good Ship Kangaroo." - RBW
Last updated in version 2.5
File: HHH132

Polly Primrose


DESCRIPTION: "Sweet Polly Primrose, a girl of nineteen summers-o, Sure, I love my Polly better than all the wealth I own." Now she is at the bottom of the sea; she fell off a ship in rough waters. The singer wishes he were a fish, so he might see her as a mermaid
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1937 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: death ship separation mermaid/man drowning
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
SHenry H734, p. 149, "Polly Primrose" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #9450
File: HHH734

Polly Van


See Molly Bawn (Shooting of His Dear) [Laws O36] (File: LO36)

Polly Vaughan


See Molly Bawn (Shooting of His Dear) [Laws O36] (File: LO36)

Polly Williams


DESCRIPTION: The singer calls the listeners to hear Polly's tragedy. Her lover grows tired of her, and takes her off to the mountains to murder her. A great manhunt finds him. The singer expects him to be condemned, and warns young women against false lovers
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1934 (Lomax)
KEYWORDS: love courting murder manhunt trial
FOUND IN: US(MA)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 159-162, "Polly Williams" (1 text, 1 tune)
Burt, p. 35-36, "(Polly Williams)" (1 text, slightly shortened)
DT, POLLYWMS*
Roud #4111
NOTES: Bayard, who collected this song, reports that it is based on an actual murder committed in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1810, in which the young man threw the girl's body over a cliff. Despite the song, the man is reported to have been acquitted, presumably due to the lack of direct evidence that he was the guilty party.
The girl's name was not Polly Williams; Bayard thought that the name was chosen as conventional; Dick Greenhaus suggests that it was for metrical reasons.
Burt had another take on the matter: She claims the existence of a genuine Polly Williams who was living alone with a minor boy (presumably her son) in 1790. This Polly Williams was sufficiently well-off to have taken over a 400 acre property in 1794. But Burt cannot link the two beyond that.
This song is item dF39 in Laws's Appendix II. - RBW
File: LoA159

Polly Wolly Doodle


DESCRIPTION: "Oh, I went down south for to see my Sal, Sing polly wolly doodle all day...." Sal is described in nonsense terms ("curly eyes and laughing hair"). Floating verses may describe the difficult journey
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1880 (Harvard "Student's Songs")
KEYWORDS: love courting nonsense floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (7 citations):
BrownIII 462, "Sing Polly Wolly Doodle" (1 text)
Hugill, p. 42, "Polly Wolly Doodle" (1 verse of a shanty version)
Spaeth-ReadWeep, pp. 82-83, "Polly-Wolly-Doodle" (1 text, 1 tune)
Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 274, "Polly Wolly Doodle" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 240, "Polly Wolly Doodle" (1 text)
Fuld-WFM, pp. 434-435, "Polly-Wolly-Doodle"
DT, POLYWOLY
Roud #11799
RECORDINGS:
Vernon Dalhart, "Polly Wolly Doodle" (Edison N-20001, 1929)
Louise Massey & the Westerners, "Polly Wolly Doodle" (Vocalion 05296, 1939)
Pete Seeger, "Polly Wolly Doodle All Day" (on LonesomeValley)
Gid Tanner & his Skillet Lickers, "Polly Woddle Doo" (Columbia 15200-D, 1927; rec. 1926)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Fiddler's Bitch" (tune)
SAME TUNE:
The Big Fat Boss and the Workers (Greenway-AFP, pp. 250-251)
The Fiddler's Bitch (File: RL346)
The Thousand-Legged Worm (Pankake-PHCFSB, pp. 51-52)
File: SRW082

Polly Won't You Try Me O


See Kemo Kimo (File: R282)

Polly-Wolly-Doodle


See Polly Wolly Doodle (File: SRW082)

Pommy's Lament, The


DESCRIPTION: The singer warns against moving to Australia. He was well-off when he went, but his ship is nearly wrecked. He is robbed by an outlaw. There is no good land available. After further misadventures, he finds himself breaking rocks and wishing for home
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1842 (broadside)
KEYWORDS: Australia poverty hardtimes emigration robbery
FOUND IN: Australia
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Meredith/Anderson, pp. 207-208, "The Pommy's Lament" (1 text, 1 tune)
Manifold-PASB, pp. 30-31, "The Pommy's Lament" (1 text, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "I've Been to Australia, Oh!" (theme)
File: MA207

Pomona (I), The


DESCRIPTION: Pomona leaves Liverpool "bound for the land of plenty" and is wrecked "on Blackwater's shoals" in Wexford Bay by "fictitious reckoning." The crew of thirty-five and four hundred passengers are lost.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1943 (Ranson)
KEYWORDS: drowning sea ship storm wreck sailor
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Apr 28, 1859 - The Pomona wreck
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ranson, pp. 62-63, "The Pomona" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #7342
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Courtown Fishermen" (tune)
NOTES: April 28, 1859: Pomona en route from Liverpool to New York "driven into sandbank seven miles off Ballyconigar" with nearly 400 lost (mostly emigrants). Reported in Wexford Constitution Apr 30th 1859 (source: RootsWeb.com genealogy site under shipping; Northern Shipwrecks Database; Ranson; for details see Bourke in Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast v1, p. 70) - BS
File: Ran062

Pomona (II), The


DESCRIPTION: Singer and crew strike Blackwater sandbank. "We launched our jovial long boat and headed for the strand. We ran her down before the wind into sweet Wexford Bay, And wasn't that a dreadful sight, all on St Patrick's Day" Two of 12 escape.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1948 (Ranson)
KEYWORDS: drowning sea ship wreck sailor
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ranson, p. 109, "The Pomona" (1 text)
Roud #7343
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Georgina" (subject)
NOTES: Ranson: "[The singer] said that this was a ballad about 'The Pomona,' but there is internal evidence in the ballad which disproves this statement.... It seems to me that this ballad refers to 'The Georgiana,' which was wrecked on the Blackwater Bank on March 17th, 1844." The ballad does not name the ship. For the historical reference for Georgina see "The Georgina." For the historical reference for Pomona see "The Pomona (I)." - BS
File: Ran109

Pompey


See Old Roger is Dead (Old Bumpy, Old Grimes, Pompey) (File: R569)

Ponsaw Train, The


See The Lake of Ponchartrain [Laws H9] (File: LH09)

Pont d'Avignon, Le


See Sur le Pont d'Avignon (File: FSWB390A)

Pony Song, The


DESCRIPTION: "Let the pony go fast as e'er it will ... What a merry ride ... snugly side by side and joining in a song. Jinkle bells, jinkle bells, jinkle all the way, Oh the funny ride we had down by Enniskea."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1973 (Morton-Maguire)
KEYWORDS: nonballad horse music
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Morton-Maguire 7, pp. 16,102,157, "The Pony Song" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
Roud #2933
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Jingle Bells" (approximate tune, theme, and some words)
NOTES: Morton-Maguire: "Here John remembers just a snatch of a song from his school days. The words and the tune obviously belong to 'Jingle Bells', but both have been adapted -- the last line ["down by Enniskea"] makes it 'belong' to that area [specifically, County Louth]." The words are sort of like "Jingle Bells" -- except the practically identical line "Jinkle bells, jinkle bells, jinkle all the way." Otherwise it shares no lines with the John Pierpont text of "Jingle Bells" on Digital Tradition. - BS
File: MoMa007

Poor and Foreign Stranger


See Wayfaring Stranger (File: FSC077)

Poor Auld Maid, The


See The Old Maid's Song (File: R364)

Poor Boy (I)


See The Coon-Can Game [Laws I4] (File: LI04)

Poor Boy (II)


DESCRIPTION: "Very first day on the Brazos line, poor boy, on the Brazos line, Number One was a-buckin." The singer complains of the heat and hard work and wishes desperately for rest. He wishes he had listened to his parents
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1966 (recorded from J. B. Smith by Jackson)
KEYWORDS: prison hardtimes work
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Jackson-DeadMan, pp. 61-66, "Poor Boy" (3 texts, 1 tune, but the "A" and "B" texts and the tune are "The Coon Can Game" [Laws I4])
File: JDM061

Poor Boy in Jail


See The Coon-Can Game [Laws I4] (File: LI04)

Poor Bushman, The


See Humping Old Bluey (The Poor Bushman) (File: MA125)

Poor Chronic Man, The


DESCRIPTION: The "poor chronic man" from Athlone goes to visit a cousin in Belfast. Along the way he meets a girl, who wines him, beds him -- then puts him to sleep and steals his clothes and money. He is taken into custody, and wishes he had never left home
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1911 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 17(56b))
KEYWORDS: whore trick prison
FOUND IN: US(MA)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
FSCatskills 118, "The Poor Chronic Man" (1 text, 1 tune)
Leyden 33, "The Connaught Man's Trip to Belfast" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST FSC118 (Partial)
Roud #3341
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 17(56b), "The Connaught-man" ("I am a poor Connaught man, from the town of Athlone"), Sanderson (Edinburgh), 1830-1910; also 2806 c.15(119), Harding B 40(1)[last verse illegible], "The Poor Connaughtman"; 2806 c.15(23), Harding B 19(32), "The Connaughtman's Adventures in Dublin"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Gold Watch" [Laws K41] (plot) and references there
NOTES: Leyden's Connaughtman visits Belfast; Harding B 17(56b) is about Glasgow; the other Bodleian broadsides take place in Dublin.
Leyden's text has the couple travel by steam coach, rather than steamboat, into Belfast. Leyden says that the steam train had been in operation since 1839. - BS
File: FSC118

Poor Dawkins


See The Eldorado Mining Disaster (File: FaE206)

Poor Ellen Smith (I)


DESCRIPTION: "Poor Ellen Smith, how was she found? Shot through the heart lying cold on the ground." The singer briefly outlines the facts of the murder, then claims his innocence though he expects to be convicted. (He says he would put flowers on her grave.)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1915 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: murder execution
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1893 - Peter Degraph (sometimes spelled De Graff) is sentenced to die for the murder of Ellen Smith
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
BrownII 306, "Poor Little Ellen, or, Ellen Smith" (1 text)
Shellans, p. 67, "Ellen Smith" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 143, "Poor Ellen Smith" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, pp. 204-206, "Poor Ellen Smith" (2 text, of which the "A" text goes here and the "B" text with "Ellen Smith" [Laws F11])
DT, ELSMITH*
Roud #448
RECORDINGS:
Green Bailey, "The Fate of Ellen Smith" (Gennett 6702/Supertone 9372 [as Harvey Farr], 1929; rec. 1928; on ConstSor1, KMM) [2 diferent but successive matrices]
Estil C. Ball, "Poor Ellen Smith" (on LomaxCD1702)
Homer Cornett, "Poor Ellen Smith" (on USWarnerColl01)
Dykes Magic City Trio, "Poor Ellen Smith" (Brunswick 127/Vocalion 5143, 1927)
Theophilus Hoskins, "Ellen Smith" (AFS, 1937; on KMM)
Vester Jones, "Poor Ellen Smith" (on GraysonCarroll1)
New Lost City Ramblers, "Poor Ellen Smith" (on NLCR16)
Frank Proffitt, "Poor Ellen Smith" (on Proffitt03)
Hobart Smith, "Poor Ellen Smith" (Disc 6080, 1940s)
Pete Steele, "Ellen Smith" (on PSteele01, FMUSA)
Henry Whitter, "Ellen Smith" (OKeh 40237, 1924)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Ellen Smith" [Laws F11]
SAME TUNE:
George Davis, "Why Are You Leaving?" (on GeorgeDavis01)
NOTES: To distinguish this from "Ellen Smith" [Laws F11], refer to the stanza quoted in the description. This, or something similar, seems to be found in all versions of this ballad.
For historical background, see the discussion under "Ellen Smith" [Laws F11]. - RBW
In several versions of this song, the singer (presumably Peter De Graff) states that he is innocent; in some versions, he is not condemned, but instead sent to prison for twenty years and eventually freed. - PJS
File: CSW143

Poor Ellen Smith (II)


See Ellen Smith [Laws F11] (File: LF11)

Poor Ellen Smyth


See Ellen Smith [Laws F11] (File: LF11)

Poor Fisherman's Boy, The


See The Fisherman's Boy [Laws Q29] (File: LQ29)

Poor Girl on the Town, The


DESCRIPTION: "I had a dear old father once, who gave me this advice," telling his son to find a wife and stay away from harlots. The son points out that his sisters might be "poor girls on the town" who become harlots. The son is then advised to patronize harlots
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1968 (submitted to Logsdon by Riley Neal)
KEYWORDS: father sister brother whore warning
FOUND IN: US(SW)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Logsdon 45, pp. 226-227, "The Poor Girl on the Town" (1 short text)
Roud #10101
NOTES: I've given the description of this based on the text in Logsdon, but I suspect the text is damaged. My guess is that there is a change of speakers: In the original, the father advises against whores, the son argues that even his sisters might end up whores, and someone else (my gut says an uncle) says, in effect, "Oh, go ahead, if you need to, visit a whore." - RBW
File: Logs045

Poor Goins [Laws F22]


DESCRIPTION: Goins runs into bandits but escapes. He meets Ely Boggs, who promises to help him escape but instead turns him over to the robbers. A bandit clubs Goins to death when the latter's horse bolts
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1908
KEYWORDS: murder outlaw robbery horse
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Laws F22, "Poor Goins"
Thomas-Makin', pp. 138-139, "Poor Goins" (1 text)
Combs/Wilgus 69, pp. 167-168, "Poor Goens" (1 text)
LPound-ABS, 50, pp. 118-119, "Poor Goins" (1 text)
DT 801, GOINS
Roud #2260
File: LF22

Poor Gracie is Dead


See Old Roger is Dead (Old Bumpy, Old Grimes, Pompey) (File: R569)

Poor Greeting Wilsie


DESCRIPTION: Dialog between "kind hearted Nancy" and "cowardly Willsie": She is going to the wood. He asks if he can follow; nothing's to stop you. What if I lay you down? I can rise again. Where'll I tie my horse? To my/your big toe. If he runs away? Devil take him.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1908 (GreigDuncan4)
KEYWORDS: sex dialog
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan4 811A,811B, "I'm Gaun to the Wood" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Roud #298
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Rolling in the Dew" (subject, some verses, and dialog format)
cf. "Cockabendy" (tune, per GreigDuncan4)
cf. "I'm Gaun to the Wood (I)" (dialog format and characters)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
My Spouse Nancy
File: GrD4811A

Poor Hard-Working Man, The


DESCRIPTION: "I have to work so very hard To keep my family. There's eleven children and my wife... And my wife she often told me I am the daddy of them all." The grown boys work shining shoes, singing, and dancing, and the girls "dance and play and sing all day"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1928 (Mackenzie)
KEYWORDS: marriage work ordeal humorous wife family
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Mackenzie 144, "The Poor Hard-Working Man" (1 text)
Roud #3284
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Pat Malony's Family" (theme)
NOTES: Mackenzie draws the parallel in theme to "Pat Malony's Family"; the analogy is not as close as Mackenzie might have us think. Malony's family came ready made; on the other hand, the family in this song are the singer's wife and his[?] eleven children. - BS
Although seemingly found only in Canada, the contents of this song seem to imply nineteenth century Irish origin, in that the grown boys are still at home; with so little land in Ireland, the children tended to stay at home until the girls married and the oldest boy inherited upon his father's death. This had a tendency to control population, but obviously not in this care.... - RBW
File: Mack144

Poor Howard


DESCRIPTION: "Poor Howard's dead and gone, Left me here to sing this song." "Who's been here since I've been gone? Pretty little girl with a red dress on." "Who's been here... Great big man with a derby on" And so forth, through as many visitors as desired
AUTHOR: Huddie Leadbetter
EARLIEST DATE: 1936 (copyright)
KEYWORDS: nonballad death
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Silber-FSWB, p. 63, "Poor Howard" (1 text)
Roud #11673
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Stavin Chain" (lyrics)
File: FSWB063

Poor Jack


See Will You Wed with a Tarry Sailor? [Laws K37] (File: LK37)

Poor Jeannie Sits A-Weeping


See What's Poor Mary Weepin' For (Poor Jenny Sits A-Weeping) (File: MSNR070)

Poor Jenny Sits A-Weeping


See What's Poor Mary Weepin' For (Poor Jenny Sits A-Weeping) (File: MSNR070)

Poor Jock frae the Country


DESCRIPTION: "Ae nicht I bein' half fou and better, That nicht I bein' bent for a spree, I daundered awa' to the city In hopes for some fun I micht see"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (GreigDuncan2)
KEYWORDS: travel humorous
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan2 294, "Poor Jock frae the Country" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
Roud #5860
NOTES: The current description is all of the GreigDuncan2 fragment, excluding the chorus. - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD2294

Poor Kitty Popcorn


DESCRIPTION: The story of a "loyal cat...." She spends much of the war following her soldier boy. (After) the war her master dies and we see "Poor Kitty Popcorn, buried in a snowdrift now; Nevermore we'll hear the music of her charming song, Me-owww."
AUTHOR: Henry Clay Work
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Sandburg)
KEYWORDS: animal death Civilwar
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Sandburg, p. 431, "Poor Kitty Popcorn" (1 fragment)
DT, KITTYPOP*
NOTES: Gag. - PJS
Well -- there are a zillion dog songs on this sort of theme. I suppose the cats deserve their chance to be disgustingly saccharine. - RBW
File: San431

Poor Lazarus (Bad Man Lazarus) [Laws I12]


DESCRIPTION: Lazarus breaks into the commissary and flees. The sheriff orders that he be taken dead or alive. Deputies shoot Lazarus and bring him back. He asks for a drink of water and dies. Lazarus's sister tells his mother, who recalls how troublesome he was
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1934
KEYWORDS: robbery death family
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (7 citations):
Laws I12, "Poor Lazarus (Bad Man Lazarus)"
Lomax-FSUSA 86, "Po' Laz'us" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSNA 303, "Po' Lazarus" (1 text, 1 tune, composite)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 91-93, "Po' Laz'us (Poor Lazarus)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 909-910, "Po' Laz'us (Poor Lazarus)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Courlander-NFM, pp. 179-181, "(Lazarus)" (1 text)
DT 661, (POLAZRUS?)
Roud #4180
RECORDINGS:
Bright Light Quartet, "Po' Lazarus" (on LomaxCD1701) (on LomaxCD1705)
James Carter & prisoners, "Po' Lazarus" (on LomaxCD1705)
Vera Hall, "Po' Laz'us" (AFS 1320 A2, 1937) [Note: Dixon/Godrich/Rye also identifies this AFS number with a Vera Hall recording of "John Henry"; one of them is clearly in error, but I don't know which] (AFS 4050 A1, 1940)
Henry Morrison, "Lazarus" (on LomaxCD1705)
NOTES: The two Bright Light Quartet citations are different versions, recorded on separate dates. - PJS
File: LI12

Poor Lil


DESCRIPTION: Lil, a beauty, lives in a house of ill repute. Her health declines and she loses her looks; a house physician recommends Scott's Emulsion, to no avail. She loses her clientele and dies.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE:
KEYWORDS: bawdy humorous whore disease doctor drugs
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Randolph-Legman I, pp. 248-249, "Poor Lil" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, POORLIL1*
Roud #10310
File: RL248

Poor Little Ellen


See Poor Ellen Smith (I) (File: CSW143)

Poor Little Girls of Ontario, (The)


DESCRIPTION: "I'll sing you a song of a plaguey pest, It goes by the name of the Great North-West. I cannot get a beau at all. They all skip out there in the fall." The girl describes all the men she courted who have now headed west. She declares she will follow them
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1957
KEYWORDS: courting separation emigration
FOUND IN: Canada(Ont,West)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Fowke/Mills/Blume, pp. 147-149, "The Poor Little Girls of Ontario"; 150-152, "The Saskatchewan Girl's Lament" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
DT, GALONTAR
Roud #4513
RECORDINGS:
Ann Halderman, "A Poor Lone Girl in Saskatchewan" (on Saskatch01)
Mrs. Hartley [Ethel] Minifie, "The Poor Little Girls of Ontario" (on Ontario1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Little Brown Jug" (tune)
NOTES: This sounds like it ought to be a humorous song about a woman who so scares men that they head west -- but it seems to be "straight." - RBW
File: FMB147

Poor Little Jesus


DESCRIPTION: "It was poor little Jesus, yes, yes, He was born on Christmas... And laid in a manger...." Describes Jesus's humble birth, the song goes on to relate his death and resurrection. Stanzas end with "Wasn't that a pity and a shame?"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1926
KEYWORDS: religious Bible Jesus poverty
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Lomax-FSUSA 101, "Po' Lil Jesus" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 373, "Poor Little Jesus" (1 text)
File: LxU101

Poor Little Joe (The Dying Newsboy)


DESCRIPTION: The singer is in New York when he meets a newsboy -- "Although he was singing, he wanted for bread; Although he was smiling, he wished himself dead." The poor newsboy is ignored by the well-to-do, and is at last found dead in the street
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1915 (Cox)
KEYWORDS: death poverty hardtimes
FOUND IN: US(Ap,So)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Randolph 716, "Poor Little Joe" (1 text plus a fragment)
JHCox 152, "Poor Little Joe" (1 text)
JHCoxIIB, #33, p. 209, "Poor Little Joe" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
cf. Gardner/Chickering, p. 482, "Poor Little Joe" (source notes only)
Roud #3111
RECORDINGS:
Red Patterson's Piedmont Log Rollers, "Poor Little Joe" (Victor 35874, 1928)
James Ragan [pseud. for Roy Harvey], "Poor Little Joe" (Challenge 394, c. 1928)
Earl Shirkey & Roy Harper [Roy Harvey], "Poor Little Joe" (Columbia 15376-D, 1928)
Arnold Keith Storm, "Poor Little Joe" (on AKStorm01)
File: R716

Poor Little Johnny


DESCRIPTION: The cotton is rotten, so Johnny "won't get his hunderd" (pounds) today.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1940
KEYWORDS: worksong
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Botkin-SoFolklr, p. 742, "Poor Little Johnny" (1 text, 1 tune)
NOTES: John Lomax recorded this from Aunt Harriet McClintock, who said it was sung in the days of slavery. - NR
File: BSoF742

Poor Little Kitty Puss


DESCRIPTION: Fiddle tune with lyrics: "Pore little Kitty Puss, Pore little feller, Pore little Kitty Puss, Died in the cellar." "Pore little Fido, Pore little Fidie, Pore little Fidie Died last Friday." Possible chorus: "Don't you hear them wolves a-howling..."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1915 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: animal death nonballad dancetune
FOUND IN: US(SE,So)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
BrownIII 108, "Poor Little Kitty Puss" (1 text)
Hudson 146, p. 293, [no title] (1 fragment)
ST Br3108 (Full)
File: Br3108

Poor Little Lamb Cries Mammy


See All the Pretty Little Horses (File: LxU002)

Poor Little Laura Lee


DESCRIPTION: Floating stanzas of two songs which mention Laura Lee. The first seems to be a song of parting as Laura's lover goes to the wars (?), but with an "I won't marry" ending; the other perhaps involves a shotgun wedding.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1952 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: courting separation
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
BrownIII 102, "Poor Little Laura Lee" (2 fragments)
NOTES: The Brown texts (the only ones I've seen) are very short and perhaps unrelated; the description is partly from the headnotes. This entry probably does not adequately describe the song. - RBW
File: Br3102

Poor Little Sailor Boy, A


See The Soldier's Poor Little Boy [Laws Q28] (File: LQ28)

Poor Lonely Widow


DESCRIPTION: The "poor lonely widow" reports that "Three husbands I've had but they're all dead and buried." The first choked to death in bed, the second drank too much (?), the third hit her and she hit him back. She wonders "if anyone will marry me now."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1973
KEYWORDS: husband wife death loneliness oldmaid
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 228-229, "Poor Lonely Widow" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1197
File: CoSB228

Poor Lonesome Cowboy


DESCRIPTION: "I'm a poor lonesome cowboy (x3) And a long way from home." "I ain't got no father To buy the clothes I wear." "I ain't got no mother To mend the clothes I wear." "I ain't got no sweetheart To sit and talk with me." (And so on for other missing persons)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Sandburg)
KEYWORDS: cowboy loneliness family
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Sandburg, p. 273, "Poor Lonesome Cowboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Larkin, pp. 112-115, "Poor Lonesome Cowboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fife-Cowboy/West 84, "The Poor Lonesome Cowboy" (4 texts, 1 tune; the "C" and "D" texts are Spanish -- "Soy Pobre Vaquero" -- but with plots similar to this piece)
Lomax-ABFS, p. 418, "Poor Lonesome Cowboy" (1 text)
DT, POORLONE*
Roud #4643
File: San273

Poor Lucy Anna


DESCRIPTION: hanty, Negro origin. "Oh the mounten's so high, an' de ribber's so wide, Poor Lucy Anna! De mounten's so high and de ribber's so wide, Ise just gwine ober de mountains." Sung in a slow 3/4 tempo.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (Bullen, _Songs of Sea Labor_)
KEYWORDS: shanty worksong
FOUND IN: West Indies
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Hugill, pp. 378-379, "Poor Lucy Anna" (1 text, 1 tune) [AbEd, p. 287]
Roud #9127
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Susiana" (similar wording in some verses)
NOTES: Bullen stated that this was so mournful a song that "one suspects it of being the lament of some just sold slaves sent from one state to another without reference to any human ties they may have possessed. This chantey was very seldom used except where negroes formed a considerable portion of the crew." - SL
File: Hugi378

Poor Man


DESCRIPTION: "I worked all the winter time, I worked through the spring, I planted my corn and taters, Then it wouldn't rain. There ain't nothing for a poor man in this world." The singer catalogs his troubles: Drought, flood, poverty, and work every day
AUTHOR: Frank Proffitt
EARLIEST DATE: 1964 (Warner)
KEYWORDS: poverty nonballad
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Warner 117, "Poor Man" (1 text)
ADDITIONAL: _Sing Out_ magazine, Volume 24, #2 (1975), p, 14, "Poor Man" (1 text, 1 tune, included in a memorial to Frank Profitt)
ST Wa117 (Partial)
Roud #5733
File: Wa117

Poor Man Blues


DESCRIPTION: "I never had a barrel of money... I'm gonna die and go to heaven, There I'll set and sing. Lord, this song ain't nothin'... But a poor man singin' the blues." The singer misses his girl. He will go home to East Virginia to stay. Other verses float
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1973
KEYWORDS: love separation home hardtimes poverty
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Silber-FSWB, p. 80, "Poor Man Blues" (1 text)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Boll Weevil [Laws I17]" (floating lyrics)
File: FSWB081B

Poor Man, O Poor Man


See Jolly Thresher, The (Poor Man, Poor Man) (File: R127)

Poor Man's Family, The


See Longshoreman's Strike (The Poor Man's Family) (File: FSC101)

Poor Man's Labor's Never Done, The


See The Brisk Young Bachelor (File: ShH69)

Poor Man's Labour, The


See The Brisk Young Bachelor (File: ShH69)

Poor Man's Song


See Jolly Thresher, The (Poor Man, Poor Man) (File: R127)

Poor Married Man


DESCRIPTION: "You may talk about the joys of the sweet honeymoon... But almost every case they're gone too soon." The troubles and burdens of the married man are listed; "You can tell by his clothes wherever he goes That he is a poor married man."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1922 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: marriage family hardtimes work
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
BrownIII 309, "Poor Married Man" (1 text plus a fragment)
Roud #16861
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "I Wish I Were Single Again (I - Male)" (theme)
File: Br3309

Poor Mary Sits A-Weeping


See What's Poor Mary Weepin' For (Poor Jenny Sits A-Weeping) (File: MSNR070)

Poor Mary Sits A-Weeping (I)


DESCRIPTION: "Poor Mary sits a-weeping, A-weeping, a-weeping, Poor Mary sits a-weeping All on a summer's day." "I'm weeping for a sweetheart." "Pray, Mary, choose a sweetheart." "I'll chose (X) for a sweetheart."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1939 (Linscott)
KEYWORDS: playparty courting
FOUND IN: US(NE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Linscott, pp. 47-49, "Poor Mary Sits A-Weeping" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST Lins047 (Partial)
Roud #1377?
File: Lins047

Poor Mary Sits A-Weeping (II)


See Little Sally Walker (File: CNFM157)

Poor Naomi


See Poor Omie (John Lewis) (Little Omie Wise) [Laws F4] AND Naomi Wise [Laws F31] (File: LF04)

Poor Old Couple, The


DESCRIPTION: "There was an old couple, and they were poor." The wife is afraid to stay alone; when the man goes away, she locks the doors and goes to bed. When he returns, she complains of his absence and asks for an (apple). He falls off the ladder. She insults him
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1895 (Baring-Gould, _A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes_)
KEYWORDS: husband wife separation disease food age disease request dialog husband wife
FOUND IN: Britain(England) US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
SharpAp 184, "The Poor Couple" (1 text, 1 tune)
Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #821, pp. 305-306, "(There was an old couple, and they were poor)"
Roud #491
NOTES: It sounds like a "spark" is some sort of supernatural creature [in the SharpAp version, after she request the fruit, "up jumped a spark and he run like a hare"], but none of my dictionaries lists any such definition. Local dialect for "spook"? Or has the lady been two-timing the "poor old fool," and is the spark her paramour? Now if she'd asked the old man to fetch a cabbage-head, we'd know for sure. - PJS
My guess is that it's an error for "up HE jumped [like?] a spark...." Or maybe it's an oblique reference to Job 5:7, "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." - RBW
File: BGMG821

Poor Old Granuaile


DESCRIPTION: Granuaile appears in a dream. She supports those jailed "in O'Connell's time in '29 ... 'we'll Home Rule get.'" She plays the patriotic tunes. She says "we'll have freedom yet." The dreamer wakes in jail.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1939 (OLochlainn); 1870s? (Zimmermann)
KEYWORDS: Ireland patriotic prison dream
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (3 citations):
OLochlainn 3A, "Poor Old Granuaile" (1 text)
Zimmermann 77, "Poor Old Granuaile" (1 text, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: Anne Chambers, Granuaile, 1986, pp. 197-198, "Poor Old Granuaile"
Roud #3068
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Erin's Green Shore" [Laws Q27] (theme)
cf. "Eileen McMahon" (aisling format)
cf. "Granuaile" (aisling format) and references there
cf. "Granuwale" (theme)
cf. "Erin's Lament for her Davitt Asthore" (theme)
cf. "The Blackbird of Avondale" or "The Arrest of Parnell" (theme)
NOTES: Zimmermann 77: "This text was the new version of an older ballad (first half of the nineteenth century." There are only a few words difference between Zimmermann 77 and OLochlainn 3A. An early date for these texts is set by the mention of tunes played by Granuaile including "God Save Ireland" (1867).
Zimmermann p. 55: "At the time of the United Irishmen, Granu Waile standing for Ireland was already celebrated by broadsides in English."
Two similar but different broadsides:
Bodleian, Harding B 19(25), "Granauile" ("One morning fair to take the air and recreate my mind"), J.F. Nugent & Co. (Dublin), 1850-1899
Bodleian, Johnson Ballads 507A, "Granawail" ("[Come] all you Irish hero's that's craving for liberty"), E. Hodges (London), 1855-1861
"Granuaile O'Malley (Or Grace O'Malley, or Gr.inne Ni Mhaille or Gr.inne Uaile) is among the most illustrious of O'Malley ancestors. She was a 'Sea Queen' and pirate in the 16th century." (Source: The Official Web Site of The O'Malley Clan Association) - BS
The Oxford Companion to Irish History gives her dates as c. 1530-c. 1603, observes that she was married twice and imprisoned 1577-1579 -- and notes that, on the whole, she strove for peaceful relations with the English.
For a discussion of this type of song as a example of the genre known as the "aisling," see the notes to "Granuaile." - RBW
File: OLoc003A

Poor Old Horse (I)


See Poor Old Man (Poor Old Horse; The Dead Horse) (File: Doe014)

Poor Old Horse (III)


DESCRIPTION: "My clothing once was linsey-woolsey fine, My hair unlinkt, and my coat it did shine; But now in open fields I'm forced for to go... Crying, 'Poor old horse, O poor old horse.'" The horse recalls the old days, and bequeathes its body to the huntsmen
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1916 (Sharp); the Stokoe/Reay versions apparently was published in Topliff before 1850
KEYWORDS: age ritual horse
FOUND IN: Britain(England(North))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Sharp-100E 85, "Poor Old Horse" (1 text, 1 tune)
Stokoe/Reay, pp. 60-61, "The Poor Old Horse" (1 text, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; #90, "Poor Old Horse" (1 text)
ST ShH85 (Full)
Roud #513
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Poor Old Man (Poor Old Horse; The Dead Horse)" (plot)
cf. "Pawkie Paiterson's Auld Grey Yaud" (theme)
cf. "Mon Cher Voisin (My Dear Neighbor)" (theme)
cf. "The Old Blind Horse" (theme)
cf. "The Auld Horse's Lament" (theme)
NOTES: Hobbyhorse rituals have been commonplace in rural Britain for centuries. This song was sung as part of these rituals.
Although there are a few parallels between this song and "Poor Old Man" (notably the description of the horse's decrepitude), I believe that this is a related but separate song with a thoroughly different gestalt. As we are being splitters in this index, this song deserves its own entry. -PJS
Roud lumps the two; personally, I wonder a little if even this song might not need splitting. The description above is taken mostly from Stokoe's text; Sharp, which begins "When I was young and in my prime," has a quite distinct look -- but exactly the same plot, and apparently both were used for hobbyhorse rituals. - RBW
File: ShH85

Poor Old Joe


See Poor Old Man (Poor Old Horse; The Dead Horse) (File: Doe014)

Poor Old Lazarus (I've Got a Home; Don't You See)


DESCRIPTION: "Poor ol' Lazarus, poor as I, Don't you see? When he had a home on high, Don't you see?" ""Rich man, rich man lived so well, When he died he had a home in hell, Don't you see, don't you see?"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1939 (Wings Over Jordan)
KEYWORDS: religious death Bible home
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
BrownIII 628, "Poor Old Lazarus" (1 text)
Roud #11929
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Dives and Lazarus" [Child 56] (subject) and references there
NOTES: Jesus's story of the rich man and Lazarus is found in Luke 16:19-31 (the Lazarus of John 11, 12 is unrelated).
It's worth remembering that this is not something that actually happened in the Bible; rather, it is a story Jesus told as a warning. - RBW
File: Br3628

Poor Old Maid


DESCRIPTION: "We're a lonely dismal crew, Poor old maid!/We're a lonely dismal crew/All dressed in yellow, pink and blue/Nursing the cats is all we do...." "Three scores and ten of us/And not a penny in the purse/So something must be done for us...."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1876 (Christie, _Traditional Ballad Airs, vol. 1_)
KEYWORDS: loneliness poverty clothes money nonballad political oldmaid
FOUND IN: Britain(England), US(Ap)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
SharpAp 229, "Poor Old Maid" (1 text, 1 tune)
Shellans, pp. 12-13, "Poor Old Maid" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3337
NOTES: Sharp refers to a manuscript in his collection with the additional lyrics, "We'll apply to George the Third/And our petition shall be heard./George the third unto us he said: 'And here's a penny to buy some bread.'" Sharp adds, "This is, no doubt, an allusion to the Bread Riots." He adds a verse from Christie, "But we'll apply to James our King/And to him a petition bring/That he may get us wed wi' ring/Poor auld maidens." - PJS
The "Bread Riots," also known as "Bread of Blood Riots," took place in 1816. In the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, Britain's immense military spending led to an intense round of inflation, with devastating effects on the poor. The most intense uprising came in Liverpool, where protesters bore placards saying "Bread or Blood." 24 rioters were sentenced to death, though in the end only five were hanged and nine more transported.
This is in the reign of George III -- but the other side of the coin is, George III by this time was permanently insane (with what is now believed to have been porphyria); the future George IV had been regent since 1811 (and at times before that). So I rather suspect the song it older -- perhaps, as implied by Christie, to the reign of James I (1603-1625), the only significant King James of England, whose reign did see a lot of economic trouble, partly because of the high spending of Elizabeth's reign (which ended with an economic downturn) and partly because James didn't understand money at all well.
The American versions of course have none of this, and downplay the poverty; instead of the song being about a POOR ol maid, it is about a poor OLD MAID -- that is, her loneliness rather than her poverty is stressed. - RBW
File: ShAp2229

Poor Old Man (II)


DESCRIPTION: The poor old man warns the Connors's from Kerry that they will rue stopping in Ross Town. He barricades his door [in "real life" that apparently led to a disaster for him].
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1985 (IRTravellers01)
KEYWORDS: feud derivative
FOUND IN: Ireland
Roud #2509
RECORDINGS:
"Pops" Johnny Connors, "Poor Old Man" (on IRTravellers01)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Shan Van Voght" (form, tune) and references there
NOTES: Jim Carroll's notes to IRTravellers01: "According to the singer, this song refers to a fight that took place in the town of New Ross, Co Wexford, sometime in the nineteen-thirties, between two travelling families.... The song is a parody of 'An Sean Bhean Bhoct,' (The Poor Old Woman) [The Shan Van Voght]." - BS
File: RcPoOMan

Poor Old Man (Poor Old Horse; The Dead Horse)


DESCRIPTION: Shanty. Characteristic line: "For they say so and they know so... Oh, poor old (horse/man)." The sailor meets an old man with an old horse; they exchange comments about the horse's (and humanity's) fate. Alternate chorus: "And I say so/And we hope so"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1857 (Bell)
KEYWORDS: shanty horse
FOUND IN: US(MA,NE) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (14 citations):
Doerflinger, p. 14, "Poor Old Man" (1 text, 1 tune)
Colcord, pp. 63-64, "Poor Old Man" (1 text, 1 tune)
Harlow, pp. 68-69, 84, "Poor Old Man," "The Dead Horse," "Poor Old Joe" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
Hugill, pp. 554-555, "The Dead Horse" (1 text, 1 tune) [AbEd, pp. 389-392]
Sharp-EFC, XLVII, p. 52, "The Dead Horse" (1 text, 1 tune)
Grat, pp. 104-106, "The Poor Old Horse," "The Poor Old Man" (1 texts)
Linscott, pp. 134-135, "The Dead Horse" (1 short text, 1 tune)
Sandburg, p. 406, "The Dead Horse" (1 text, 1 tune)
Smith/Hatt, p. 25, "Say Old Man" (1 text)
Bone, p. 50, "The 'Dead Horse' Chanty" (1 short text, 1 tune)
Shay-SeaSongs, p. 16, "The Dead Horse" (1 text)
MHenry-Appalachians, p. 237, (no title) (1 fragment, probably this)
DT, DEADHORS*
ADDITIONAL: Captain John Robinson, "Songs of the Chantey Man," a series published July-August 1917 in the periodical _The Bellman_ (Minneapolis, MN, 1906-1919). A fragment titled "Poor Old Joe" is in Part 2, 7/21/1917.
Roud #513
RECORDINGS:
Capt. Leighton Robinson, "The Dead Horse" (AFS, 1951; on LC26)
Leighton Robinson w. Alex Barr, Arthur Brodeur & Leighton McKenzie, "Poor Old Man" (AFS 4229 B, 1939; in AMMEM/Cowell)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Poor Old Horse III" (plot)
cf. "Old Marse John" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Charleston Gals (Clear the Kitchen)" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Johnny Booker" (lyrics)
cf. "The Salt Horse Song"
cf. "I Whipped My Horse"
cf. "Dumpty Moore"
NOTES: When a boarding master supplied a sailor to a ship, he received an advance from the sailor's pay (for background on this, see the notes to "Dixie Brown" [Laws D7]). Thus the sailor had to work for some weeks or months before he began to earn money for himself. This was known as "working off the dead horse." Often sailors celebrated in some way when the dead horse was finally disposed of, and this song celebrates the process. - RBW
Thirty days out, sailors would sometimes make a horse-figure from rags and tar, hoist it to the yardarm, cut it loose and let it drift away on the sea, a ritual known as "burying the dead horse." A good captain would break out a ration of rum at this time. A sailor of my acquaintance reported that 100 days out, on a U.S. Navy carrier, the men would be given a ration of two cans of beer, and this was still known as the "dead horse." - PJS
Bone says of this that it is "the only chanty I know composed definitely for entertainment." - RBW
For another version see Robert Bell, editor, [The Project Gutenberg EBook (1996) of] Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England (1857), "'The Mummers' Song' or 'The Poor Old Horse' as sung by the Mummers in the Neighbourhood of Richmond, Yorkshire, at the merrie time of Christmas" ("You gentlemen and sportsmen"). - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: Doe014

Poor Old Robinson Crusoe


DESCRIPTION: "When I was a lad, my fortune was bad, My grandfather I did lose." As in the book, he, Robinson Crusoe, is shipwrecked, lands on an island with gun and sword. He builds a hut, lives there with Friday, until he is rescued by a passing ship.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1797 (Oh poor Robinson Crusoe sheet music, according to Opie-Oxford2)
KEYWORDS: rescue sea ship wreck
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
GreigDuncan1 25, "Robinson Crusoe" (1 text)
Opie-Oxford2 455, "Poor old Robinson Crusoe!" (2 texts)
Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #216, p. 146, "(Poor old Robinson Crusoe)"
Roud #5805
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 28(66), "Robinson Crusoe," W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also Harding B 28(66), "Robinson Crusoe"; Johnson Ballads 2559, "Life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe"
LOCSinging, sb40455b, "Robinson Crusoe," H. De Marsan (New York), 1864-1878; also as203020, as111820, "Robinson Crusoe"
NOTES: Robinson Crusoe was written by Daniel Dafoe and published in 1719. [Based loosely on the actual adventures of a sailor named Alexander Selkirk. - RBW]
The source for the description is broadside Bodleian Harding B 28(66).
Broadside LOCSinging sb40455b: H. De Marsan dating per Studying Nineteenth-Century Popular Song by Paul Charosh in American Music, Winter 1997, Vol 15.4, Table 1, available at FindArticles site. - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: OO2455

Poor Old Sailor, The


DESCRIPTION: An old sailor begging tells his story: his death, falsely reported, caused his wife to die of a broken heart and his daughter to wander "I know not where." A woman listening reveals herself as his daughter and she takes him home until he dies.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1846 (broadside, Bodleian Johnson Ballads 457)
KEYWORDS: age disability begging children sailor reunion
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar) Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Smith/Hatt, pp. 59-60, "The Worn-Out Sailor" (1 text)
GreigDuncan5 1076, "The Poor Old Worn-Out Sailor" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #6764
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Johnson Ballads 457, "The Poor Old Worn-Out Sailor," E.M.A. Hodges (London), 1844-1845; also Harding B 11(3099), Harding B 20(177), Firth c.12(399), "The Poor Old Worn-Out Sailor"; Harding B 11(2622), Harding B 11(2623), "The Poor Old Worn Out Sailor"; Harding B 25(1540), 2806 c.18(253), "The Poor Old Sailor"
LOCSinging, cw106810, "The Worn Out Sailor," H. De Marsan (New York), 1864-1878
NOTES: Smith/Hatt: Fowke notes that "John Moulden has located a broadside copy entitled 'The Poor Old Sailor' in the National Library of Ireland." That led me to look for the same in Bodleian.
Bodleian, Harding B 40(12), "The Poor Old Soldier" ("'Twas on a summers eve all labour was o'er"), J.F. Nugent and Co.? (Dublin?), 1850-1899 appears to be the same -- or closely related--but I could not download the text image to verify that.
Broadside LOCSinging cw106810: H. De Marsan dating per Studying Nineteenth-Century Popular Song by Paul Charosh in American Music, Winter 1997, Vol 15.4, Table 1, available at FindArticles site. - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: SmHa059

Poor Old Slave, The


DESCRIPTION: "The poor old slave is dead and gone, We know that he is free. Disturb him not, but let him rest, Away down in Tennessee." "The poor old slave is gone to rest, No master does he fear, Disturb him not...."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1944 (Wheeler)
KEYWORDS: slave death burial humorous wordplay
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (2 citations):
MWheeler, p. 118, "Th Po' Old Slave" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, POORSLAV
ST MWhee118 (Full)
Roud #10049
NOTES: The Digital Tradition has a (camp?) version of this in which the singer inserts nonsense syllables. But Wheeler's text, though short, seems to ensure that this is a parody -- or rather an expansion -- of a serious song (perhaps a spiritual). - RBW
File: MWhee118

Poor Old Worn-Out Sailor, The


See The Poor Old Sailor (File: SmHa059)

Poor Oma Wise


See Poor Omie (John Lewis) (Little Omie Wise) [Laws F4] (also Naomi Wise [Laws F31]) (File: LF04)

Poor Omie (John Lewis) (Little Omie Wise) [Laws F4]


DESCRIPTION: John Lewis, to free himself of his pregnant sweetheart, offers to marry her but instead plans to drown her. She begs for her life, promising to go begging, but he throws her in the river. The body is found and Lewis imprisoned. (He escapes into the army.)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1874
KEYWORDS: pregnancy murder rejection prison drowning
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1808 - Drowning of Naomi Wise in North Carolina
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,SE,So)
REFERENCES (20 citations):
Laws F4, "Poor Omie (John Lewis) (Little Omie Wise)"
Belden, pp. 322-324, "Oma Wise" (2 texts)
Randolph 149, "Poor Oma Wise" (5 texts plus 2 excerpts and 1 fragment, 2 tunes)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 163-166, "Poor Oma Wise" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 149A)
BrownII 300, "Poor Naomi (Omie Wise)" (5 texts plus 1 excerpt and mention of 2 more; it appears that Laws places texts "A" and "D" here, but "H" is also this song, with "F" and "G" being "Naomi Wise" [Laws F31])
Hudson 63, pp. 187-188, "Poor Omie" (1 text)
Cambiaire, pp. 30-31, "Oma Wise" (1 text)
MHenry-Appalachians, pp. 73-75, "John Lewis" (1 text)
Leach, pp. 793-795, "Naomi (Omie) Wise" (2 texts)
Friedman, p. 202, "Naomi Wise" (1 text, 1 tune)
Warner 116, "The Ballad of Naomi Wise" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSNA 138, "Omie Wise" (1 text, 1 tune)
LPound-ABS, 51, pp. 119-120, "Poor Omie" (1 text)
SharpAp 123, "Poor Omie" (7 texts, 7 tunes)
Burt, pp. 25-28, "Omie Wise" (1 text plus some fragments, 1 tune; also an excerpt from another Naomi Wise song, seemingly neither this nor Laws F31)
Darling-NAS, pp. 200-201, "Omie Wise" (1 text)
Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 42 "Ommie Wise" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 149, "Deep Water" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 225, "Omie Wise" ; p. 227, "Deep Water" (2 texts)
DT 627, OMIEWISE* OMIWISE2*
Roud #447
RECORDINGS:
Finley Adams, "Omie Wise" (AAFS 2796 B1)
Clarence Ashley, "Naomi Wise" (Columbia 15522-D, 1930; rec. 1929)
Clarence Ashley & Doc Watson, "Poor Omie" (on Ashley03)
Dock Boggs, "Little Omie Wise" (on Boggs3, BoggsCD1)
Mrs. W. R. Buchanan, "Little Omie Wise" (AAFS 2857 B3)
Ruth Clark Cullipher, "Little Onie" (AAFS 1031 A1)
Morgan Denmon, "Naomi Wise" (OKeh 45075, 1927; rec. 1926)
Minnie Floyd, "Naomi Wise" (AAFS 1301 A1)
Cleophas Franklin, "Omie Wise" (AAFS 2891 B2)
[G. B.] Grayson & [Henry] Whitter, "Ommie Wise" (Victor 21625, 1927; on AAFM1, GraysonWhitter01, ConstSor1)
Goldie Hamilton, "Little Omie Wise" (AAFS 2829 A1)
Aunt Idy Harper & the Coon Creek Girls, "Poor Naomi Wise" (Vocalion 04354 [or 04345], 1938)
Roscoe Holcomb, "Omie Wise" (on Holcomb1, HolcombCD1)
A. J. Huff, "Omie Wise" (AAFS 2877 B3)
Sarah Ison, "Little Omie Wise" (AAFS 2810 B1)
Aunt Molly Jackson, "Oma Wise" (AAFS 824 B2, 1935) (AAFS 3340/3341 A)
Polly Johnson, "Poor Omie" (AAFS 2760 A4)
Mrs. Esco Kilgore, "Oma Wise" (AAFS 2772 A2)
Alexander Kirkheart, "Naomi Wise" (AAFS 1700 A1)
Alec Moore, "Poor Omie Wise" (AAFS 57 B1)
Johanna Shepherd, "Omie Wise" (AAFS 1405 B2)
Lillian Short, "Naomi Wise" (AFS; on LC12)
Della Sibert, "Omie Wise" (AAFS 1486 A2)
Doug Wallin, "Omie Wise" (on Wallins1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Naomi Wise" [Laws F31] (plot)
cf. "Tragic Romance" (tune)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Naomi Wise
File: LF04

Poor Paddy Works on the Railway


See Paddy Works on the Railway (File: LxU076)

Poor Parker


DESCRIPTION: The singer laments, "Ye gods above, protect us widows!" She recalls her husband [Richard] Parker, "hanged for mutiny." She recalls how she was not allowed to his execution, and how she and friends dug up his grave and gave him a decent burial
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1824 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 28(42))
KEYWORDS: ship navy mutiny punishment execution husband wife burial mourning
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1797 - Nore mutiny, ending in the execution of Richard Parker and others
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South),Scotland) US(SE)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
BrownII 117, Poor Parker"" (1 text)
Logan, pp. 58-64, "Death of Parker" (1 text)
ADDITIONAL: C. H. Firth, _Publications of the Navy Records Society_ , 1907 (available on Google Books), p. 282, "The Death of Parker" (1 text, immediately following an anti-Parker song)
Roud #1032
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 2806 c.18(83), "The Death of Parker," Angus (Newcastle), before 1826; also Harding B 28(42), "Parker's Widow," W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824 (barely legible); Harding B 25(490) (only a few words legible but probably this); Johnson Ballads 2447 (semi-legible); Harding B 11(843); Harding B 11(840)=Harding B 11(841), "The Death of Parker," H. Such (London), 1863-1885; Harding B 11(844), "The Death of Parker," J Harkness (Preston), 1840-1866; 2806 c.16(207)=Harding B 11(3301), J. Walker (Durham); 2806 c.13(245) (only partly legible)
NOTES: Living conditions in sailing ships were rarely pleasant, but conditions in the British Navy in the late eighteenth century were particularly bad. Sailor's food, supplied by dishonest contractors (M/D, p. 45), was often insufficient and rotten (M/D, p. 43), and they were all but imprisoned on their ships. Plus, the sailors (most of them, of course, recruited by press gangs; Dugan, p. 58) were held in service for very long periods. Many were beaten mercilessly for bad reasons or none -- or, perhaps, "to encourage the others"; cruel officers were one of their chief causes of complaint (M/D, pp. 55-61).
Theoretically, rations were supposed to be adequate and fresh food offered when possible. But the Navy farmed out these services, and the contractors were generally corrupt and supplied bad food in inadequate quantities; Dugan, pp. 56-57. Even if the contractors had been entirely honest, it would have been hard for them to do their work well, because they, like the sailors, were not getting paid what they were owed; Dugan, p. 67.
Nor could the men hope to buy anything to improve their conditions; pay hadn't been raised for over a century (Guttridge, p. 46), and even those pitiful amounts often went unpaid; Dugan, p. 35, says that the total arrears as of the end of 1796 exceeded 1.4 million pounds -- a figure that could be multiplied by a factor of a hundred or so to reach modern dollars. M/D, p. 18, cites a source claiming some sailors had not been paid for decades, although no proof was offered.
And all this at a time when the British economy was teetering on the brink of collapse and revolution may have been in the air (Dugan, pp. 29-31); many of those sailors had families back home who were in extreme distress (Dugan, p. 66).
Dissatisfaction with naval policy was enough that, when the windows at Number Ten Downing Street were broken, the general feeling was that it was in response to the heavy demands of the press gang, though Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger brushed it off as "a single pebble" (Wilson, p. 278).
To top it all off, Britain was already war-weary from the contest with France, and was so broke that payment in specie had been halted in many cases (M/D, p. 6). The nation had little energy for reform -- especially since the Navy was considered to be doing a rather poor job (M/D, p. 4); why try to reform a service that was so wrong-headed? The fact that this was the fault of the antique senior officers, not the seamen, does not seem to have crossed Parliament's mind.
M/D, p. 246, note how Nelson repeatedly warned of problems with pay -- but, in 1797, no one cared about Nelson.
The result of all this, in 1797, was a series of mutinies -- at a time when Britain's very independence depended on the fleet holding off a invasion; Britain's land allies had been defeated by Revolutionary France, and the French were looking across the channel to eliminate their chief rival.
There had been several recent mutinies -- on Culloden and Windsor Castle in 1794, and of course on the Bounty in 1789 (M/D, p. 8), plus the dreadful case of the Hermione (for which see "Captain James (The Captain's Apprentice)"), but those had been treated as individual acts. The events of 1797-1798 were different. The sailors wrote to the Admiralty, and to their former commander Admiral Howe (M/D, pp. 21-25), begging for relief. When there was no response, they tried Parliament (M/D, p. 27). Still nothing. When orders came for the fleet to sail, the sailors refused (M/D, p. 32).
M/D, p. 245, declare that "There can be no doubt, to any fair mind, that the mutinies, especially that at Spithead, were thoroughly justified."
The first mutiny (April 16-May 14, 1797) took place at Spithead, the fleet base outside Portsmouth; Keegan, p. 38, describes it as "a strike (for better pay and conditions) rather than a rebellion," and most other authorities agree -- the delegates who organized it decided that officers would be obeyed and all orders respected except those for going to sea (Dugan, p. 92; Guttridge, p. 50; M/D, pp. 36-37). Even Wilson, who does his best to sweep the whole thing under the rug (he never so much as mentions the brutal treatment meted out to the ringleaders of the Nore revolt), admits that "order, maintained by the mutineers, was perfect. No seaman was permitted to go on shore without what was called 'a Liberty Ticket,' and the very idea of handing over even a single vessel to France was suppressed by the seamen themselves with resolute determination" (pp. 278-279).
The sailors in fact hung ropes from the yardarms, by orders of their delegates, to hang sailors who violated discipline (M/D, p. 39). The delegates even ordered several ships which had been designated for convoy escort, which wanted to stay in Spithead, to sail and do their duty (M/D, p. 40). There was on incident in which several sailors were killed, but the officer involved fired first, and the delegates ordered him to be spared (M/D, pp. 83-84).
As Stokesbury says on p. 188, "This was not red revolution, as had happened across the Channel... this was simply a desperate reaction by men who had been pushed farther than humanity and decency could stand. The sailors were ready to fight the French if they came out, but they had finally had enough of rotten conditions, meager pay and rations, and officers who were often martinets and occasionally brutes.... It was in fact less of a mutiny than it was a sit-down strike."
The Spithead mutiny temporarily ended, after repeated attempts to browbeat the determined sailors, when pardons were offered and more money promised (Dugan, p. 104, describes about a 15% pay raise).
The pardons came quickly (Dugan, p. 112, Guttridge, p. 53; M/D, p. 51, note that First Lord of the Admiralty Spencer himself brought the request to King George III). But it took parliament weeks to vote the funds (M/D, p. 70), and in that time, the mutiny heated up again (Dugan, p. 112) as sailors sought better food and less brutal officers.
Many officers were forced from their ships (Dugan, pp. 138-139; M/D, p. 89), and an admiral imprisoned in his cabin (Guttridge, p. 58; Dugan, p. 142; Davies, pp. 53-54; M/D, p. 81). Real trouble seemed likely if the government did not act (M/D, p. 92); there were moves on some ships to court-martial certain officers.
It is ironic to note that the Spithead strike was settled largely by the actions of Richard Howe (1726-1799), who previously had been co-commander with his brother William during the revolt of the American colonies; he was hauled out of retirement to deal with the Spithead problem (Dugan, p. 148). It was the last act 58 years of service to king and country. The Spithead outcome demonstrated fully his sympathy with ordinary people against the government of George III; even went so far as to set aside the bad officers (Guttridge, p. 58). Howe showed no respect for rank in the weeding process; those pushed aside included a Vice Admiral (John Colpoys, MP, KG, and former First Sea Lord), four captains, and 102 junior officers (Dugan, pp. 168-169), an average of somewhat more than two officers per ship. Some of the officers were re-employed, and all continued to be paid (M/D, p. 112), but Colpoys would never go to sea again (M/D, p. 97).
The promise of pardon for the mutineers seems to have been kept without any reservations. M/D, p. 118, report that there seem to have been no instances of retribution over Spithead; several of the fleet Delegates were in fact promoted. One even became a midshipman within a year.
To the greatest extent possible, news of Spithead was kept quiet -- both to keep the French from acting and to prevent more widespread rebellion (Dugan, p. 130). Spithead, after all, wasn't the only fleet base in Britain. But not even the vigilance of the leading admirals could entirely silence the news (Woodman, p. 112). So the Spithead strike inspired the Nore mutiny (May 10-June 16). M/D, p. 126, suggest that the Nore mutiny was a sort of sympathy strike to make sure the Admiralty got the point. But it escalated (in part, perhaps, because the Nore sailors did not get to do anything about bad officers).
The ships at the Nore, and many of those at Yarmouth, wanted the same terms ("We just want the same treatment as the Spithead people," an envoy told Howe -- Dugan, p. 172), including the right to dispose of officers (Guttridge, p. 69), and didn't get them, and what they got, they got slowly. Nor was it clear that the sailors at the Nore were covered by the Spithead pardon (indeed, it was eventually decided that they were not; Dugan, p. 212; Guttridge, p. 66). Left dangling in the wind, the Nore mutineers kept increasing their demands, including even calling for change in the Articles of War (Guttridge, p. 64; Cordingly, p. 38), which was patently out of the question.
Perhaps if there had been a Howe to deal with the Nore mutineers, things might have gone better. Even a sense of unit cohesion might have helped, since it would have promoted a greater sense of "family" between officers and men -- but there was none; the Nore was simply a place where a lot of ships gathered (M/D, p. 125). The men at the Nore were a very mixed lot. Many of the sailors there -- including Richard Parker, the titular leader of the coming mutiny -- were "quota men." With the navy being manned so heavily, it was almost impossible to impress enough sailors, so officials in all parts of Britain had to supply a certain quota of landsmen; they found them sweeping the streets and alleys and by paying bounties. Often the men they got were marginally fit -- older and unused to sea conditions. And more than a few were radicals; Thomas Payne's The Rights of Man was very popular at this time (Dugan, p. 63). Valentine Joyce, the leader of the Spithead protestors, was one such; he had been a Belfast tobacco seller before serving a sentence for sedition.
This lack of unity was due to the fact that the Nore (near the mouth of the Thames off the Isle of Sheppey) wasn't a fleet base the way Portsmouth was; it was a rendezvous point (Dugan, pp. 177, 227). It was not, in modern terms, a "home port" for any of the ships stationed there, and the docking facilities were limited (Herman, p. 351). The ships located there were mostly in transit, on their way to join some other fleet. The ships there were there, essentially, by chance. There was no competent admiral to convey their demands, either. So they mutinied.
M/D, p. 252, say, "It is difficult to feel the same way about the people at the Nore [as about those at Spithead]. One's sympathy they have, but less of one's admiration and respect. It was, from the beginning, a muddle-headed affair. One can see no error in their action as long as it constituted a sympathetic strike in favour of their brethren at Spithead; but their behavior after they knew that the mutiny there was settled... partakes of the wild and foolish. One may, indeed one does, feel very much for them; there were still many wrongs which they suffered.... One may even grant that there was just cause for another mutiny; their conduct of it is what provokes criticism. To begin with, there was hardly any preliminary organization...."
The Nore revolt was a more thorough mutiny than at Spithead; the men were rowdier and more officers were set aside (M/D, p. 135). Strangely, the mutineers seem to have had no specific demands at first (M/D, p. 136).
And, somehow, two days after the mutiny began, the disobedient crews put themselves in the hands of Richard Parker. Dugan, p. 187, tells of him being chosen delegate from Sandwich; later he was made "President of the Delegates of the Whole Fleet"; p. 198. He was an unusual man even in this mixed-up flotilla.
Our data about his personal life is limited. Cordingly, p. 36, guesses his birth data as 1764, based on the fact that he was said to be 33 at the time of his death. But M/D, p. 269, states that he was born in Exeter in April 1767.
Parker had actually served at one time as a junior ship's officer, but had been cashiered for what Guttridge, p. 62, calls an "obscure infraction" and Cordingly, p. 37, labels "immoral conduct." M/D, in their notes on his life on p. 269, list no details on what happened. Whatever it was, he sent to serve belowdecks; Guttridge, p. 62, says that "in 1784 [he] was discharged for either disobedience or nervous disorder, perhaps both." Here again, however, there is uncertainty; Dugan, p. 198, says he was discharged in 1794 for rheumatism; Cordingly, p. 37, simply says he was sick. M/D, p. 269 says that he was "discharged sick." Perhaps he suffered from mental illness; M/D, p. 122, describe what sounds like a suicide attempt. Having married (perhaps 1791; M/D, p. 269) and gone into farming, he ended up in debtor's prison (Dugan, p. 198).
Even though he was a "political," as we might say these days, he had sea experience, so he was accepted back into the navy -- to meet the quota. At least he knew his way around the ship. His enlistment bounty was used to pay his debts (Cordingly, p. 37).
We have little evidence as to his motivations. Davies, p. 54, calls him "a misguided man, who was undoubtedly a demagogue more interested in leading a rebellion than in correcting genuine wrongs." Dugan, p. 199, thinks he was given his position at the head of the mutiny because he was an intelligent, educated man; because he had that history of being court-martialed for insubordination (something that would have earned him respect from the ranks) -- and because he wanted the job (although he would later deny this; M/D, p. 135). Despite his later role, he seems to have been surprised at the outbreak of the mutiny (M/D, pp. 134-135). M/D, p. 135, conclude that he was not a good leader; he could not dominate others.
The Nore mutiny was organized under the Admiralty's nose, with sailors on the depot ship Sandwich preparing an oath and a series of demands, then convincing other ships to sign on (Dugan, pp. 179-181). Unlike Spithead, it was not a "respectable mutiny"; even at the very start, there were instances of British ships firing on other British ships (Dugan, p. 185). And the Admiralty was far less patient, calling up soldiers very quickly (M/D, p. 147).
The rebellion even affected the ships at sea watching the Dutch; Admiral Duncan's fleet, based at Yarmouth, was also afflicted by insubordination (M/D, pp. 171-181). Some of these went to the Nore to reinforce the "Floating Republic" (M/D, pp. 182-183). Parker at one point had 13 ships of the line (Dugan, p. 262), plus lesser vessels, under his command. (Though ships joined the rebellion and gave it up at odd intervals; by the end, only two ships were still under delegate control.) Many ships were "half in" from the start -- e.g. Circe, watching the Dutch fleet in the Texel, had a mutinous crew on the gun deck, but held to her duty because her officers and a few loyal sailors controlled her helm and sails; Dugan, pp. 255-256.
This time, the Admiralty took a hard line, saying all grievances had been addressed (Dugan, p. 227). Naturally the mutineers did not accept this brush-off, and continued their strike.
But the Nore simply could not support such an action; the facilities weren't there. The mutineers eventually found themselves starved out. They blockaded London (Guttridge, p. 68), although they let fresh food through (Dugan, p. 264; M/D, p. 251, offers this as evidence that the sailors were not revolutionaries, since they could have done more). The Admiralty cut off supplies in return (Dugan, p. 237), which had not been done at Spithead (M/D, pp. 161-162; M/D, p. 186, says that the government blockaded the ships first rather than the reverse). To make their problem worse, many of the ships in the rebellious fleet had been poorly supplied to begin with; water and candles were in short supply (Dugan, p. 262), and some ships were low on wood for the stoves. On at least one ship, water was not only rationed but closely guarded (M/D, p. 219).
Parker, by the time the embargo started, found himself in an impossible situation. The authorities didn't trust him -- but several of his rebellious ships were wavering; many wanted to return to government authority. Parker at one point asked the men of the Sandwich if they wished to give in, and they did (Dugan, p. 243) -- and the fleet delegates responded by inducing a system where they elected a new Fleet President every day! (Dugan, pp. 243-244). If Parker gave in, he would be set aside. Dugan thinks he wanted to take the pardon but could not.
Meanwhile, Parliament was working on an act which would treat every sailor on a mutinous ship as a pirate (M/D, p. 192). This even though the sailors continued to cheer the King at every chance -- despite the fact that the King involved was George III! With this sort of behavior going on, there was obviously little hope of compromise.
The situation was turning into a race against time, though the mutineers had no way of knowing it: Would William Pitt's government fall, or would the mutineers starve? Voices against Pitt were numerous (Dugan, pp. 259-261), and bond prices were at record lows (Dugan, p. 265), but George III sustained his Prime Minister and the government held on by the skin of its teeth.
The mutineers were also having troublemaking and implementing plans. They considered fleeing in their ships (M/D, pp. 207-208), but they could not agree on a destination (most were still too patriotic to surrender to France), and besides, they had no navigators. Increasingly, the leaders were clamping down on the rank and file -- in the early days of the mutiny, most of the punishments handed out by the delegates were for drunkenness or other genuine faults. By the end, the usual crime was "perjury," i.e. questioning their leaders (M/D, p. 218).
Gradually ships started slipping away from the Nore assembly (Guttridge, p. 67), though some were fired on as they sailed (M/D, p. 220). Parker tried to prevent bloodshed, but was ignored (M/D, p.. 220-221). Having failed to get the sailors to listen, Parker then followed their will and manned a gun himself, seemingly working it in a frenzy (M/D, p. 221).
The attempts to halt the exodus failed. Even some of the delegates gave up (Dugan, p. 269). There was a scramble to obtain terms of surrender (M/D, p. 225). Not that terms were given; the instructions given to the admirals on that spot said that "no encouragement" could be given to "any proposition short of unconditional submission" (M/D, p. 227). Parker himself gave up while half a dozen ships were still holding out. He seems to have made no attempt to escape the government's reach (M/D, pp. 232-233).
The government didn't take any of that into account. As far as they were concerned, it was mutiny, and someone had to be punished. And Parker was the official scapegoat.
What followed reflected badly on Georgian justice. M/D, p. 238, are sure that any court would have condemned Parker to death, but the Admiralty didn't risk it. M/D, p. 239, consider Parker's trial fair, but Dugan strongly dissents, noting in particular the following: Parker was charged with civil offenses, but was treated as a mutineer and subjected to court-martial rather than set him before a jury (which might acquit him). The officers trying him clearly had conflicts of interest. He had no lawyer. He was denied access to evidence -- including even the transcripts of the trial. He was given only a week to prepare his defence (Dugan, p. 329), and was in a dark prison when not in court (M/D, p. 235). All he could do was operate by memory. And the prosecution had assembled an absurd case; many of the witnesses called had absolutely nothing to say, since they had never met or dealt with Parker (Dugan, pp. 332-333).
The verdict, naturally, was just what was expected:
"The court has heard witnesses... [and] is of the opinion that the whole of the charges were fully proved against Richard Parker.
"The court, therefore have determined that the said Richard Parker shall suffer death, and that he be accordingly hanged by the neck until dead on such day, and on board such ship, as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty shall appoint" (Dugan, p. 348).
Dugan's version of events is extremely anti-George and pro-Parker, but he gives the impression that, had Parker been granted a fair trial (which of course was unlikely), he would have been allowed to live by a jury of the time. An honest military trial today would probably result in a bad conduct discharge and related penalties. He was disobedient -- but he was not treasonous.
There was, of course, no possibility of appeal, save to the King, who had the brains of a sea slug (remember that this is George III, who had already caused the American Revolution, and the Spithead Mutiny, and was about to witness the 1798 Rising in Ireland). George a very high standard of personal sexual morality and absolutely no sympathy for anyone who did not think him the infallible viceroy of God on earth.
Logan seems to agree with Dugan that the trial was a mockery, though his view is less pro-Parker than Dugan: "Parker appears from the evidence to have obtained scant justice; and there can be no doubt that, being an educated man, and rather ambitious of being an orator, he was made the mouthpiece and the tool of harsher natures, whom even in death he did not betray" (p. 62).
On the other hand, Davies, p. 55, says of the trials, "Out of about four hundred [ringleaders], most were pardoned, some were flogged or imprisoned and twenty-eight were hanged. This may be considered a moderate response by the government since, strictly speaking, all mutineers were subject to only one punishment, and that death. On the other hand, even if it had wanted to, the government could not have hanged the whole navy."
The number of executions cannot be considered precise. Dugan agrees that over 300 of the 400+ alleged ringleaders were pardoned, but cites estimates of the number hanged ranging from 24 to 36 -- though mostly toward the high end of that range. Guttridge, who has no sympathy for the mutineers, claims on p. 72 that "sixty mutineers were condemned to death, imprisonment, or flogging. Probably no more than two dozen were hanged, most of them from the Sandwich [Parker's ship]." M/D, p. 242, say 400 were tried, 59 sentenced to die, 29 actually executed.
Such were the ways of Georgian justice that Parker's wife was never officially told he was on trial, and she was denied a final meeting with him. According to Cordingly, pp. 39-41, she hired three different boats to try to reach him; all were turned back. Her only communication with him after his condemnation was a letter he wrote (Dugan, pp. 351-352). Her only sight of him after he went off on his final trip was of his body hanging from a yardarm (Cordingly, p. 36).
Parker was hanged June 30. At the scaffold, there was hesitation about allowing him a final speech. But he cried out to the crowd at the last, avoiding any political references and appealed for mercy for all the other leaders of the revolt (Dugan, p. 356), obviously to limited effect.
The song reportedly describes the disappearance of Parker's body fairly accurately. Ann Parker had asked for the body and been refused; mutineers were denied proper burial (Cordingly, p. 42). He was to be left in unconsecrated ground, but the widow and others stole the body and spirited it away. The authorities did catch up with her, but the church where the body was taken permitted a proper burial with appropriate ceremonies (Dugan, pp. 359-362).
Such was the navy's desire to wash away the memory of the Nore that the Sandwich, where Parker has been President of the fleet, was broken up soon after (Dugan, p. 363. Although it was pretty close to a hulk already, so breaking it up was not unreasonable).
Mrs. Parker outlived her husband by nearly half a century; Dugan (p. 458) reports that, in 1840, she was "seventy, blind, and friendless."
A French invasion during the period of the mutinies might well have succeeded, but the French were too confused to bring one about. England, utterly mismanaged by her government, survived by raw force and a great deal of luck. And, once her sailors were back on duty, they did well; ships from Yarmouth and the Nore helped win the great Battle of Camperdown against the Dutch (M/D, p. 243), halting fears of invasion for a time.
There were any number of broadsides about the Nore and Spithead mutinies (Firth, p. 277, prints "A New Song" about Spithead, and on .p 280 has "British Tars Rewarded" on the same theme; p. 281 has "Parker the Delegate," an anti-Parker song to the tune of "The Vicar of Bray"), but few found their way into tradition, this amazingly widespread song being the primary exception. Dugan, p. 362, indeed notes that those who sold anti-Parker broadsides were attacked in the streets and their song sheets scattered and destroyed. That may be the best comment of all on the state of affairs in Georgian England; the Nore mutiny brought England close to disaster, yet so much was the government disliked that the mutiny's hero became a martyr. - RBW
BibliographyLast updated in version 2.5
File: BrII117

Poor Pat Must Emigrate


See The Irish Refugee (Poor Pat Must Emigrate) (File: OCon053)

Poor Pussy


DESCRIPTION: "Frisky full of fun and glee, Happy as a cat can be, Poor pussy, poor pussy, Sitting so cosy, Close by the fire"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (GreigDuncan8)
KEYWORDS: nonballad animal
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan8 1673, "Poor Pussy" (2 short texts, 2 tunes)
Roud #13520
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Frisky
NOTES: The current description is all of the GreigDuncan8 text. - BS
Last updated in version 2.5
File: Grd81673

Poor Rebel Soldier


See The Rebel Soldier (File: R246)

Poor Richard and the Serapis and Alliance


See Paul Jones's Victory [Laws A4] (File: LA04)

Poor Robin


See Old Roger is Dead (Old Bumpy, Old Grimes, Pompey) (File: R569)

Poor Rosy


DESCRIPTION: "Poor Rosy, poor gal, Rosy broke my poor heart, Heaven shall be my home. Before I stay in Hell one day, Heaven shall be my home." The singer has "hard troubles," and "trials"; (he bids farewell to Brother Robert and Sister Lucy and turns to Heaven)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1867 (Allen/Ware/Garrison)
KEYWORDS: religious nonballad
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Allen/Ware/Garrison, p. 7, "Poor Rosy" (1 text, 1 tune plus a variant form)
Scott-BoA, pp. 199-201, "Poor Rosy" (1 text, probably retouched, 1 tune)
Roud #11856
File: SBoA199

Poor Schnapps


DESCRIPTION: A "dutch" song. Corporal Schnapps, who is perhaps not overly bright, patriotically enlists in the army. Having faced battle, horrid food, and the scorn (and spit) of southern women, he now faces the indignity of having his girl run off with another man
AUTHOR: Henry Clay Work
EARLIEST DATE: 1864 (sheet music)
KEYWORDS: humorous foreigner Civilwar battle hardtimes courting infidelity elopement
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Randolph 218, "The Yankee Dutchman" (1 text, 1 tune)
JHCox 78, "Corporal Schnapps" (1 text)
DT, CRPSHNAP*
Roud #4872
File: R218

Poor Sinner, A


DESCRIPTION: "Hark, sinner, hark, while I relate, What happened in Kentucky state. A poor young woman lately died; She dropped from all her wealth and pride." Led astray by a young man, she turned ungodly. Dying, she bids farewell; her mother says she will go to hell
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1937 (Scarborough)
KEYWORDS: death hell
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
BrownIII 63, "A Poor Sinner" (1 text)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, p. 73, (no title) (1 short text)
ST Br3063 (Full)
Roud #7846
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Wicked Polly" [Laws H6] (plot)
File: Br3063

Poor Smuggler's Boy, The


DESCRIPTION: Singer meets a boy who is mourning his father. The father was a smuggler; caught in a storm, their ship was wrecked and his father drowned. The boy has clung to a plank and been swept ashore. A rich lady hears his complaint and adopts him
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1888 (Ashton)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Singer, walking the beach on a stormy day, meets a boy who is mourning his father. The father was a smuggler who would, "venture out on the salt sea/For a keg of good brandy from the land of the free" (Holland). Caught in a storm, the ship has been wrecked and his father has drowned, despite the boy's efforts to save him. The boy has clung to a plank and been swept ashore. A rich lady hears his complaint, and adopts him
KEYWORDS: grief crime death drowning storm wreck father orphan
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South))
Roud #618
RECORDINGS:
Bob Roberts, "The Smuggler's Boy" (on LastDays)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Fisherman's Boy" [Laws Q29] (plot)
cf. "The Soldier's Poor Little Boy" [Laws Q28] (plot)
cf. "The Farmer's Boy" [Laws Q30] (plot)
cf. "The Fisherman's Girl" (plot)
File: RcTSmBy

Poor Soldier (I)


DESCRIPTION: "All out in the snow they are tonight, Far away from kin and home. God help the ones who fight for the right, And them who are done gone on. Poor soldier, hungry and cold (x2)." The girl recalls her soldier's departure and prays he is safe wherever he is
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1959 (Warner)
KEYWORDS: soldier separation nonballad
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Warner 132, "Poor Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST Wa132 (Full)
Roud #5734
RECORDINGS:
Frank Proffitt, "Poor Soldier" (on FProffitt01)
NOTES: The Warners claim this is a Civil War song, and so does the tradition in Frank Proffitt's family. They're probably right, but there is no reason why it could not have been sung in any other U.S. war fought in a cold climate.
The musical notes in Warner comment on how irregular the tune and meter are to this piece. It's simple truth; Frank Proffitt didn't really seem to have a tune; more of a sketch which he fleshed out irregularly to fit the words. - RBW
File: Wa132

Poor Soldier (II), The


See The Bold Soldier [Laws M27] (File: LM27)

Poor Stranger


See Poor Stranger, The (Two Strangers in the Mountains Alone) (File: R059)

Poor Stranger a Thousand Miles from Home


See Farewell, Sweet Mary AND The Poor Stranger (Two Strangers in the Mountains Alone) (File: E082)

Poor Stranger Far From Home, A


See Poor Stranger, The (Two Strangers in the Mountains Alone) (File: R059)

Poor Stranger, The (Two Strangers in the Mountains Alone)


DESCRIPTION: The singer wanders out alone and meets a girl, also alone. Each asks why the other is there. Both have had trouble with lovers at home and so ran away. They settle down to a happy life together
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1905 (GreigDuncan4)
KEYWORDS: courting rambling
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE,So) Ireland (Britain(England(South),Scotland(Aber)) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (7 citations):
GreigDuncan4 831, "I Am a Poor Stranger" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Belden, p. 487, "Poor Stranger a Thousand Miles from Home" (1 text, a short item which seems to combine "The Poor Stranger," "Farewell, Sweet Mary," and perhaps some floating items)
Randolph 59, "Two Strangers in the Mountains Alone" (1 text, 1 tune)
JHCox 107, "A Poor Stranger Far from Home" (1 text)
BrownII 138, "The Happy Stranger" (1 fragment)
SharpAp 157, "The Rebel Soldier, or The Poor Stranger" (7 texts, 7 tunes, but only "A" and probably "F" are this song; the rest are "The Rebel Soldier")
Manny/Wilson 95, "A Stranger Far From Home" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST R059 (Partial)
Roud #272
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Lost Girl"
cf. "The Rebel Soldier" (meter, floating lyrics)
cf. "She Has My Heart Enclosed" (tune, per GreigDuncan4)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Poor Stranger
Sweet Europe
The Lads o' Sweet Newry
File: R059

Poor Thing


DESCRIPTION: "A maid all alone in a poor house did dwell.... Her hair was red and her age was nineteen -- Poor thing!" Her swain asks, "Will you fly by the light of yon star? For I am the i of the you that I are." Her father chases the man, who "flew up the flue."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1936 (Hudson)
KEYWORDS: love courting nonsense wordplay
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Hudson 88, p. 215, "Poor Thing" (1 text)
Roud #4479
File: Hud088

Poor Toby Is Dead


See Old Roger is Dead (Old Bumpy, Old Grimes, Pompey) (File: R569)

Poor Tramp Has to Live, The


See Remember the Poor Tramp Has to Live (File: RcRtPTHL)

Poor Wayfaring Pilgrim, A


See Wayfaring Stranger (File: FSC077)

Poor Wee Jockie Clarke


DESCRIPTION: Jockie Clarke sells newspapers and goes ragged; his father is a drinker and a tyrant. Jockie asks his mother to make him a jacket from his father's old coat. Jockie tells his mother that he looks uncommon neat since she has made him up the jacket
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1953 (MacColl)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Jockie Clarke sells newspapers and goes ragged; his father is a drinker, a tyrant to his wife and neglectful to his children. Jockie asks his mother to make him a jacket from his father's old coat; she does and it's a beauty, keeping him warm and holding plenty of potatoes in the pockets. Jockie tells his mother, 'You'd think I'd both mother, father, and a home," and that he looks uncommon neat since she has made him up the jacket
KEYWORDS: poverty pride request clothes commerce work father mother worker
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber),England(North))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Kennedy 236, "Poor Wee Jockie Clarke" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #2135
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Faither's Old Coat
Fairther's Old Coat
File: K236

Poor Widow


DESCRIPTION: Singing game: "Here's a poor widow, she (lives/lies) her lone... She wants a man and cannae get none." The widow or her daughter go seek a husband, "She may go round and choose her own"; the courting may or may not be successful
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1898 (Gomme)
KEYWORDS: playparty courting
FOUND IN: Ireland Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
SHenry H48f, p. 11, "Here's a Poor Widow" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST HHH048f (Full)
Roud #5105
File: HHH048f

Poor Working Girl, The


DESCRIPTION: "The poor working girl, may heaven protect her, She has such an awf'ly hard time, The rich man's daughter goes haughtily by, My God! Do you wonder at crime?" ("Her man drives his new model T And drinks rotten hooch till he's blind.")
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Sandburg)
KEYWORDS: work poverty hardtimes crime technology
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Sandburg, p. 195, "The Poor Working Girl" (1 short text, 1 tune)
Arnett, p. 151, "The Poor Working Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
JHJohnson, p. 18, "The Poor Working Girl" (1 text)
Roud #4271
NOTES: Not to be confused with the early twentieth century pop tune "Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl" - RBW
File: San195

Poor, But a Gentleman Still


DESCRIPTION: "Don't think by my dress that I come here to beg, Though the sharp pains of hunger I feel; The cup of misfortune I've drained to the dregs, Though poor, I'm a gentleman still." The singer describes how he became poor, pointing out that he is still honest
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1879 (stage performance, per FSCatskills)
KEYWORDS: poverty
FOUND IN: US(MA,SE)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
FSCatskills 103, "Poor, But a Gentleman Still" (1 text, 1 tune)
Randolph 829, "A Gentleman Still" (1 text)
Shellans, pp. 84-85, "I'm Poor But a Gentleman Still" (1 text, 1 tune)
Gilbert, pp. 151-152, "Poor, but a Gentleman Still" (1 text)
ST FSC103 (Partial)
Roud #7337
File: FSC103

Pop Goes the Weasel


DESCRIPTION: Words can be anything, as long as they have the phrase "Pop goes the weasel." The 1853 text talks of a weasel in a henhouse, temperance issues, and relations between Uncle Sam and John Bull
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1853
KEYWORDS: animal technology nonballad nonsense humorous political
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MW,NE,SE,So)
REFERENCES (11 citations):
Randolph 556, "Pop Goes the Weasel" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 408-409, "Pop Goes the Weasel" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 556A)
BrownIII 93, "Pop Goes the Weasel" (1 fragment)
Linscott, pp. 107-108, "Pop! Goes the Weasel" (1 tune plus dance instructions)
RJackson-19CPop, pp. 176-179, "Pop Goes de Weasel" (1 text, 1 tune)
Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #872, p. 325, "(Up and down the city road)"
Montgomerie-ScottishNR 108, "(Round about the porridge pot)" (1 text)
Arnett, p. 40, "Pop Goes the Weasel" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 34, "Pop Goes The Weasel" (1 text)
Fuld-WFM, pp. 440-441+, "Pop Goes the Weasel"
DT, WEASLPOP* POPWEAS2*
ST R556 (Full)
Roud #5249
BROADSIDES:
Murray, Mu23-y1:060, "Pop Goes the Weasel," James Lindsay (Glasgow), 19C, possibly a parody on another version of the piece
NLScotland, L.C.178.A.2(032), "Pop Goes the Weael", James Lindsay (Glasgow), 1852-1859
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "A Ripping Trip" (tune)
cf. "The D & H Canal" (tune)
NOTES: The history of this piece is obscure. The earliest datable printings (British and American versions from 1853) have the tune; the American version also includes the phrase "Pop goes the weasel," but has little resemblance to the modern texts such as "All around the cobbler's bench The monkey chased the weasel" (this text does not appear until the twentieth century).
The English printing (the NLScotland broadside cited) is a dance tune with no text; it hints that the music is traditional. Interestingly, printer Lindsay has another version (the Murray broadside) which does have a text -- but it appears rewritten, since it refers to "Albert and the Queen" dancing to the tune, and girls being ruined by its melody.
It is generally agreed that, in the earliest versions, the "weasel" is the tool used by hatmakers, and to "pop" it is to pawn it. - RBW
File: R556
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