Six Excellent New Songs (Edinburgh)/The Butcher's Frolic with the Taylors Wife
For other versions of this work, see The Butcher’s Frolic.
The Butcher's Frolic with the Taylors Wife.
It was an honest butcher that liv'd in Leeds Town,
He was a clever youth and his name was Jack Brown
A taylor's wife went out one day some meat for to buy
What do you want good woman what do you wish to buy
I want a loin of mutton if you don't ask too dear,
Come here honest woman and I'll use you kind & fair
You are the cleverest woman that I have seen today
I'd have you come & view my meat before you go away
She took the loin of mutton and liked it very well
And said unto the butcher the price now to me tell,
Fair dear its at your service, or any joint I have,
If that you'll tell me where you live your company I crave.
The place where I do live is near the blazing star
If you ask for the hand and sheers you'll surely find me there;
To-morrow-night most certainly, I'll come and visit thee,
With all my heart kind sir you are welcome unto me
She took the loin of mutton refuse it she would not
Straight home then she did carry it & put it in the pot
When her husband became home she told him what she had
When his heart it jumpt for joy, he was so very glad.
She said loving husband how must this contrivance be,
Tomorrow night most certainly the butcher comes to me,
You must go under the bed and take a sword with you
If the butcher comes to you swear you'll run him thro
When the taylor heard of this he said my loving wife.
I never handled sword, not fought in all my life,
You must not be faint hearted but fight with conrage bold
For if we do win the day we'll gain great store of gold
The butcher he bethought himself he'd best provided be,
For fear the taylor and his wife should play a trick on he.
He took a brace of pistols, and laid them on the bed
Which made the taylor quake for fear and look like one quite dead.
What is it that stinks so the butcher he did say.
It is my husband's little dog that under the bed doth lay
If its your husban's little dog, I'll turn him out of the room
I beg you will bestill my dear its only a little perfume
The butcher he arose and there he chanc'd to spy
One of the taylors legs that under the bed did lay.
If this is your husband's little dog, I'll kill him out of spite
O spare my life the taylor cried and you may kiss my wife.
Now said the butcher let you and I agree,
That I may come whene'er I please your loving wife to see
With all my heart, the tailor said you are welcome to my wife,
I never was so frightened before in all my life,
He was a clever youth and his name was Jack Brown
A taylor's wife went out one day some meat for to buy
What do you want good woman what do you wish to buy
I want a loin of mutton if you don't ask too dear,
Come here honest woman and I'll use you kind & fair
You are the cleverest woman that I have seen today
I'd have you come & view my meat before you go away
She took the loin of mutton and liked it very well
And said unto the butcher the price now to me tell,
Fair dear its at your service, or any joint I have,
If that you'll tell me where you live your company I crave.
The place where I do live is near the blazing star
If you ask for the hand and sheers you'll surely find me there;
To-morrow-night most certainly, I'll come and visit thee,
With all my heart kind sir you are welcome unto me
She took the loin of mutton refuse it she would not
Straight home then she did carry it & put it in the pot
When her husband became home she told him what she had
When his heart it jumpt for joy, he was so very glad.
She said loving husband how must this contrivance be,
Tomorrow night most certainly the butcher comes to me,
You must go under the bed and take a sword with you
If the butcher comes to you swear you'll run him thro
When the taylor heard of this he said my loving wife.
I never handled sword, not fought in all my life,
You must not be faint hearted but fight with conrage bold
For if we do win the day we'll gain great store of gold
The butcher he bethought himself he'd best provided be,
For fear the taylor and his wife should play a trick on he.
He took a brace of pistols, and laid them on the bed
Which made the taylor quake for fear and look like one quite dead.
What is it that stinks so the butcher he did say.
It is my husband's little dog that under the bed doth lay
If its your husban's little dog, I'll turn him out of the room
I beg you will bestill my dear its only a little perfume
The butcher he arose and there he chanc'd to spy
One of the taylors legs that under the bed did lay.
If this is your husband's little dog, I'll kill him out of spite
O spare my life the taylor cried and you may kiss my wife.
Now said the butcher let you and I agree,
That I may come whene'er I please your loving wife to see
With all my heart, the tailor said you are welcome to my wife,
I never was so frightened before in all my life,