The Bold Drover [Roud 311], performed by Norfolk farmworker Harry Cox
The Bold Drover / The Trooper and the Tailor / The Groggy Old Tailor is a traditional English language folk song. This video was filmed in 1962 and part of the Peter Kennedy collection. The full video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyqsqnKpwEo&t=371s In fair London town a young damsel did dwell Her wit and her beauty none could her excel Her wit and her beauty none could her excel And her husband he was a bold rover Fal tha-ral ler-a-lye day A groggy old tailor he lived close by And all on this fair damsel he cast a sly eye Ten guineas I'll give if I can with you lay For your husband he is a bold drover Fal tha-ral ler-a-lye day The bargain was made and upstairs went straight way They hopped into bed, soon the music did play They huddled, they cuddled, they both fell asleep And they never once thought of the drover Fal tha-ral ler-a-lye day In the middle of the night the old drover came home He knocked at the door with the palm of his hand "Oh hide me, Oh hide me, old Taylor," he* cried For I heard the loud knock of the drover Fal tha-ral ler-a-lye day With a rusty old cupboard hangs over the door Where you can get in so snug and secure I will go down and I'll undo the door And I'll let in my husband, the drover Fal tha-ral ler-a-lye day She undone the door and her husband walked in With a kiss and a compliment she welcomed him in "Your kiss and your compliments I don't give a pin I will strike off a light," said the drover Fal tha-ral ler-a-lye day "Oh husband, dear husband, there's no fire stuff If you come to bed, you'll be quite warm enough There's a rusty old cupboard hangs over the door "And this night I will burn" said the drover Fal tha-ral ler-a-lye day He knocked this old cupboard when down on the floor He kicked it, he knocked it well all o'er and o'er Heels over lugs and right out of the door And away run the groggy old tailor Fal tha-ral ler-a-lye day * she For those interested in authentic folk music recordings, I'd recommend exploring the YouTube channel "Reynard the Fox" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr-Yww8BJQcRkZVg78euK_g/playlists
About Harry Cox
Harry Fred Cox, was a Norfolk farmworker and one of the most important singers of traditional English music of the twentieth century, on account of his large repertoire and fine singing style.
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