Henry's Songbook

(Trad)

With me ing-twing of an ing-thing of an i-do
With me ing-twing of an ing-thing of an i-day
With me roo-boo-boo roo-boo-boo randy
And me lab stone keeps beating away

It was early one fine summer's morning
A little before it was day
I dipped her three times in the Mersey
And carelessly bade her, Good day

As sung by The Spinners

[1964:] Many authorities believe that this song is from the English music hall repertoire and probably originating in Ireland. Tommy Makem learned it in Ireland. (Reprint Sing Out 6, 359)

[19??:] I first heard this song at a meeting of newly released political prisoners in December, 1916. I am told it was written by Phil O'Neill of Kinsale. (Colm O'LOchlainn, ???)

[1998:] [A verse] back in England in the Fifties was:
My brother's a poor missionary
He saves fallen women from sin
He'll save you a blond for a guinea
My God how the money rolls in
(Bert, www.mudcat.org, 27 Apr)

[1998:] According to G. Legman the original was the Scots "My daddy's a delver of Dykes" in Tea Table Miscellany and Orpheus Caledonius, but I'm not inclined to agree. See his comments at "My Father Was Hung (for sheep stealin)", #45, 'Roll Me in Your Arms', 1992. (Bruce Olson, www.mudcat.org, 27 Apr)

[1998:] Just came across this in an Amazon.com review of a book called "Twas only an Irishman's dream": "Dr. Williams takes what may at first seem like a narrow subject - Irish-American song lyrics - and uses it to tell not only the story of the Irish in America, but of American popular culture as well. This book is full of revelations. Readers unfamiliar with the subject matter will be surprised to learn that not too long ago in our history, Irish-American music and popular culture were practically synonymous. Others with a more sophisticated knowledge of Irish American history will be delighted at all sorts of surprises - e.g., "The Cobbler" and "The Real Old Mountain Dew," two songs popularized by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Maken early in their career, were actually written by Ned Harrigan, a 3rd-generation Irish-American New Yorker." (Martin Ryan, www.mudcat.org, 30 Jul)

[1998:] "The Cobbler", of which there are many traditional versions, appears to be a descendent of "My Name is Old Hewson the Cobbler". The tune is in Chappell's PMOT, and the song is reported to be in 'The Vocal Miscellany', Dublin, 1738. No one has confirmed this, or given the a text of it. [I've seen the earlier London edition of 1734, both volumes, and the song is not in those.] A traditional version of the "The Cobbler" in 'The New Green Mountain Songster', 1939, is entitled "Old Hewson, the Cobbler". [See Ed. Cray's 'The Erotic Muse', 2nd ed., pp. 112-3, 1992, for some bibliography of the song.] (Bruce Olson, www.mudcat.org, 25 Oct)