| Play/Download Music File Lesley Nelson |
|
|
|
|
| This ballad first appears in print in The Scots Magazine (1803).
The ballad is also known as The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin (because in longer versions the husband, not daring to beat his highborn wife for fear of her kin, wraps sheepskin on her back and beats the skin). In some versions the husband is a laird, and in others a cooper. Other variants and alternate titles include: The Wee Cooper of Fife (a very different tune but similar story) and Sweet Robin. The story A merry jeste of a shrewde and curste wyfe lapped in Moreelles skin for her good behavior was imprinted in London in Fleetestreet by H. Jackson. It is not dated, but according to Child, it is certainly earlier than 1575. Some scholars speculate this ballad was the inspiration for Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. This is Child Ballad #277 (The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin). For a complete list of Child Ballads at this site go to Francis J. Child Ballads. |
There was a man lived in the West; Fal lal lal lal lal li-do, He married a wife - she was not of the best; She was Ruggleton's daughter of Iero. Said he, when he came in from plough: Fal lal lal lal lal li-do, Ho! is my dinner ready now? To Ruggleton's daughter of Iero. O if your dinner you must have, Then get it yourself; I am not your slave, Said Ruggleton's daughter of Iero. For I won't brew and I won't bake, Fal lal lal lal lal li-do, And I won't make my white hands black Said Ruggleton's daughter of Iero. O you shall brew and you shall bake, Fal lal lal lal lal li-do, And you shall make your white hands black, To Ruggleton's daughter of Iero. He took a stick down off the rack; Fal lal lal lal lal li-do, And on the back went rickety-rack Of Ruggleton's daughter of Iero. O I will bake and I will brew Fal lal lal lal lal li-do, And I will cook your meat for you Said Ruggleton's daughter of Iero. |
| From
One Hundred English Folksongs and The English and Scottish Popular Ballads See Bibliography for full information. |
|