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| The Penny Wedding by David Allan |
Her shoes were bright
Her stockings white
Her buckles shone like silver
She had a black and roving eye
And her hair hung down her shoulder
With my rue dum day
Fol the diddle dol
Fol the dol th diddle dum the day
Her buckles shone like silver
She had a black and roving eye
And her hair hung down her shoulder
With my rue dum day
Fol the diddle dol
Fol the dol th diddle dum the day
(From "I'm Seventeen
Come Sunday")
Pretty catchy lyrics, eh?
Songs of the 18th century mirrored the human condition of the times and, just
like today, were filled with stories of love, jealousy, humor, politics, and
partying. Many songs were made for dancing and as long as they "had a good
beat and easy to dance to," to quote American Bandstand sages of the
1950's, they were a hit. Dancing was a very important part of colonial American
entertainment. According to the Irish physician, John Brickell, who lived in
Edenton, NC about 1731 and wrote a book entitled The Natural History of North
Carolina:
"Dancing they are all
fond of, especially when they can get a Fiddle or a Bagpipe; at this they
will continue Hours together, nay, so attach'd are they to this darling
Amusement, that if they can't procure Musick, they will sing for themselves."
An
18th century Musick lover's Playlist would surely include the following:
(Thanks to http://www.contemplator.com/america/
for these examples and lyrics.)
An
early lawyer joke rears its sarcastic head in:
"A
Fox May Steal Your Hens, Sir"
A fox may steal your
hens, Sir,
A Whore your health and Pence, Sir,
Your daughter rob your Chest, Sir,
Your Wife may steal your Rest, Sir,
A Thief your Goods and Plate.
But this is all but picking,
With Rest, Pence, Chest, and Chicken,
If ever was decreed, Sir,
If Lawyer's Hand is fee'd, Sir.
He steals your whole Estate.
A Whore your health and Pence, Sir,
Your daughter rob your Chest, Sir,
Your Wife may steal your Rest, Sir,
A Thief your Goods and Plate.
But this is all but picking,
With Rest, Pence, Chest, and Chicken,
If ever was decreed, Sir,
If Lawyer's Hand is fee'd, Sir.
He steals your whole Estate.
Ah,
sweet love from:
"Enraptured
I Gaze"
Enraptured I Gaze,
when my Delia is by,
And drink the sweet poison of love from her eye;
I feel the soft passion pervade ev'ry part,
And pleasures unusual play round my fond heart.
What's a woman compared to a good stiff drink? From:
And drink the sweet poison of love from her eye;
I feel the soft passion pervade ev'ry part,
And pleasures unusual play round my fond heart.
What's a woman compared to a good stiff drink? From:
"The Women All Tell Me"
My Chloe had dimples
and smiles I must own;
But, though, she could smile, yet in truth she could frown,
But tell me, ye lovers of liquor divine,
Did you e'er see a frown in a bumper of wine?
But, though, she could smile, yet in truth she could frown,
But tell me, ye lovers of liquor divine,
Did you e'er see a frown in a bumper of wine?
I could go on but my novel writing calls so I shall
bid you adieu for now, Fol the dol th diddle dum the day...
Have a good week, dear Reader. Thanks for
stopping by...Y'all come back now!
Kate
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