P.T.Millington Collection (1971, N.Couldry & R.Manning)

Main Variant

Transcription
BLIDWORTH - PLOUGH MONDAY PLAY

Written down by an unknown informant, circa 18/5/1971, for Norman Couldry
and Roger Manning.

FIRST MAN
  In comes I, never been before,
  So many actors stand at the door,
  Some can sing, some can dance,
  And with your consent they'l all walk in.

SECOND MAN
  In comes I Betsy Bellsebub,
  My head is made of brass
  Me belly, made of steel,
  Me hands and knees are made of knuckle bone,
  Nobody can make me feel.

THIRD MAN
  In comes I Tom Steel,
  In my hand a frying pan
  On my head a witleather driping tin
  If you don't think I'm a jolly fellow, I do.

FOURTH MAN
  In comes I King Sam, so brave and bold,
  I won ten thousand pounds in lira and gold,
  I fought the British Dragon,
  And brought it to the slaughter,
  And by these means I turn myself round and round,
  And see if anyone dare face me.
  No for if they do,
  I will smish then and smosh them as small as fleas and flys,
  And" send them over to Nottingham to make mince pies,
  Dare anyone face me.

SECOND MAN
  Yes I dare.


(Fourth man hits him with a sticke and he falls to the floor.)

FIRST MAN
  Five pounds for a doctor.

THIRD MAN
  Ten to stop away.

FIRST MAN
  Fifteen in a case like this.

FIFTH MAN
  In comes I the doctor.

FIRST MAN
  How came you to be a doctor.

FIFTH MAN
  I traveld for it.

FIRST MAN
  Where did you travel.

FIFTH MAN
  ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND and WALES,
  Once went up to York,
  To cure old Mother Cork,
  She fell head first backward up stairs,
  And greased her shin against her elbow
  And made her stocking bleed,
  And I cured that.

FIRST MAN
  Well try your skill on this dead man.

FIFTH MAN
  So I will by feeling at his Pulse.
  He's not dead, he's in a trance,
  He's been living on green tater tops,
  Nine days all but a fortnight,
  So give him a pill now,
  And tne box later,
  Then if he can't sing, we can dance,
  So raise him up let begin.
  --------------
  Now me€ lads it's time for listing, do not be afraid,
  You shall all kinds of ribbon. like the pretty maid.


  Good master and good mistress
  As you sit round fire,
  Just you remember the Plough Boys
  That ploughed more and mire.
  We thank you for your kindness you have given us.