| Author | Topic: Add: My mother did so before me | |
| Pip Freeman | Posted - 30 Oct 03 - 01:05 pm | |
My mother did so before me I am a brisk and bonny lass, A little over twenty. And by my comely air and dress, Of sweethearts I've got plenty. But I'll beware of wedlock's snare, Tho' dying swains adore me, The men I'll tease, myself to please, My mother did so before me. With fine brocade and diamonds bright, Like merry Spring delighting, My heart, my humours all delight, For my sweet face's inviting. I take delight, both day and night, To be talked of in story. I'll have it said: Here shines a maid! my mother did so before me. To parks and plays I often go, I'll waste each leisure hour; I'll walk and talk with every beau, And make them feel my power. If e'er a spark should fire my heart, From one who does adore me, I'll wed and kiss, in married bliss, my mother did so before me. So well I'l manage when I'm wed, My husband to perfection, And as good wives have always said, Keep husbands in subjection. No snarling fool me e're shall rule, Nor e'er eclipse my glory, I'll let him see, mistress I'll be, my mother did so before me. Source: Songs of the West by S. Baring Gould Notes: Baring Gould notes: This song is based on the old English ditty "My Father was Born before Me", as may be seen at once by comparing the first few lies.Added to database here | ||
| Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 31 Oct 03 - 06:36 pm | |
Roud 6915 The song appeared on broadsides and in chapbooks. There is one example at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, but it is mostly illegible: My mamma did so before me The original song is rather long, but here it is anyway: The Prodigal's Resolution: Or, my Father was born before me. I Am a lusty lively Lad, Now come to One and Twenty, My Father left me all he had, Both Gold and Silver plenty: Now he's in Grave, I will be brave, The Ladies shall adore me; I'll court and kiss, what hurt's in this, My Dad did so before me. My Father was a thrifty Sir, Till Soul and Body sundred, Some say he was an Usurer, For thirty in the Hundred: He scrapt and scratcht, she pincht and patcht, That in her Body bore me; But I'll let fly, good cause why, My Father was born before me. My Daddy has his Duty done, I'm getting so much Treasure, I'll be as dutiful a Son, For spending it in Pleasure; Five Pound a Quart shall cheer my Heart, Such Nectar will restore me, But I'll let fly, good cause why, My Father was born before me. My Grannum liv'd at Washington, My Grandsir delv'd in Ditches, The Son of old John Thrashington, Whose Lantern Leather Breeches, Cry'd, whither go ye? whither go ye? Tho' Men do now adore me, They ne'er did see my Pedigree, Nor who was born before me. My Grandsir striv'd, and wiv'd, and thriv'd, 'Till he did Riches gather, And when he had much Wealth atchiev'd, Oh, then he got my Father: Of happy Memory, cry I, That e;er his Mother bore him, I ne'er had been worth one Penny, Had I been born before him. To Free-school, Cambridge, and Grays-Inn, My gray-coat Gransir put him, Till he forgot he did begin, The Leathern Breech, that got him; One dealt in Straw, the other in Law, The one did ditch and delve it, My Father store of Sattin wore, My Gransir Beggar's Velvet. So I get Wealth, what care I if My Grandsir were a Sawyer, My Father prov'd to be a chief, And subtile, Learned Lawyer: By Cook's Reports, and Tricks in Courts, He did with Treasure store me, That I may say, Heavens bless the Day, My Father was born before me. Some say of late, a Merchant that Had gotten store of Riches, In's Dining-Room hung up his Hat, His Staff, and Leathern Breeches: His Stockings gartred up with Straw, E'er Providence did store him, His son was Sheriff of London, cause His Father was born before him. So many Blades now rant in Silk, And put on Scarlet Cloathing, At first did spring from Butter-milk, Their Ancestors worth nothing; Old Adam, and our Grandam Eve, By digging and by Spinning, Did all to Kings and Princes give Their radical Beginning. My Father to get my Estate, Tho' selfish, yet was slavish, I'll spend it at another rate, And be as lewdly lavish; From Mad-men, Fools, and Knaves he did Litigiously receive it; If so he did, Justice forbid, But I to such should leave it. At Play-houses, and Tennis Court, I'll prove a noble Fellow, I'll court my Doxies to the Sport Of o'brave Bunchinello: I'll drink and drab, I'll Dice and stab, No Hector shall out-roar me; If Teachers tell me Tales of Hell, My Father is gone before me. Our aged Counsellors would have Us live by Rule and Reason, 'Cause they are marching to their Grave, And Pleasure's out of Season: I'll learn to dance the Mode of France That Ladies may adore me; My thrifty Dad no Pleasure had, Tho' he was born before me. I'll to the Court, where Venus Sport Doth revel it in Plenty, I'll deal with all, both great and small, From twelve to five and twenty; In Play-houses I'll spend my Days, For they're hung round with Plackets, Ladies make room, behold I come, Have at your knocking Jackets. Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719-20, III 45-8. Simpson, The British Broadside Ballad and Its Music, 376-7, comments: "One of Thomas Jordan's civic pageants, London Triumphant, 1672, contained a song beginning 'I Am a lusty lively lad,' which was later issued in slightly longer form on broadsides, with the title, 'The Prodigal's Resolution, or My father was Born before me. To a Pleasant New Tune' (Pepys, B.M. C.22.f.6, Harvard, Lord Crawford, Roxburghe; reprinted in Roxburghe Ballads VI, 329). We cannot be sure of the tune originally used, but the song was reprinted in Pills, 1719-20, III, 45, and in Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 279, with the music of 'Jamaica.' The verses had already appeared in Wit and Mirth, 3d ed., 1682, without tune direction or music, and in John W. Franck's Remedium Melancholiae, 1690, set to an art song by Franck." And of Jamaica; "This tune is found in The Dancing Master, 4th ed., 1670, p. 142, and in all subsequent editions. It is also in Walsh's Compleat Country Dancing-Master, 1718, and in all editions of Pills. X:1 T:Jamaica T:The Prodigal's Resolution T:My Father was born before Me B:Playford, Dancing Master, 4th ed., 1670, 142 N:Also in Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719-20, III 45, in G L:1/8 Q:1/4=100 M:4/4 K:F F2 A2 A2 Bc|d2 c2 d4|c2 A2 A2 GF|G4 F4:| f2 f2 e2 dc|d2 d2 c2 A2|f2 f2 ef g2|d4 c4| f2 f2 e2 dc|d2 d2 c2 A2|Bc d2 c2 BA|G4 F4|] | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 01 Nov 03 - 09:43 am | |
Jamaica, from The Dancing Master, 1651-1728: An Illustrated Compendium, by Robert M. Keller. | ||