I always liked Dolores Keane's version of "Eighteen Years Old". Couldn't quite hear it in my voice, somehow! Jim Carrol's "sequel" above is very similar to this version collected in Newfoundland(?) by Helen Creighton. Nineteen Years Old Oh, as I was a-walking way down by the strand, I espied a fair damsel so handsome and grand. She had buckles and brooches of silver and gold; Says I, "Now what a dandy, and only nineteen years old." Well, I courted her truly while keeping her fed (in two weeks) The weeks went by and finally we were wed. And when we were married and the wedding bells tolled. I'd married me a dandy only nineteen years old. Well, the wedding being over we retired to rest. You can bet I was astonished when my wife did undress. Such an armload of paddings as my wife did unfold -- Says I, "Now what a dandy, and only nineteen years old." Well, she took off her cork leg right off to her knee, She unbuttoned her (fingers) blouse until I counted three, Then she plucked out her glass eye on the floor it did roll Says I, "Now what a dandy, and only nineteen years old." Well, she took off her eyebrows, I thought I would faint; (For) She took from her face a good bucket of paint, Then she took off her false wig and her bald head soon told She was handier ninety than (to) nineteen years old. Now, come all you young fellows when courting you go, Examine your true love from her head to her toe, For if you don't do it, you're bound to be sold (To) a patched up old geezer about ninety years old. Fred Redden – collected Helen Creighton Bracketed additions/alternatives from Ray Johnson of Newfie band Buddy Wasisname and the other Fellas I first found this on a Youtube clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Lo4T8V6G0 Ray Johnson does it as a monologue towards the end of the set (You may want to fast-forward) I put a tune to it which seems to work. Ross
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