The Gatty collection has the following; The Parson with the Wooden Leg [Roud 1508] from - 'Down Yorkshire Lanes' Hallamshire Traditions 2013 http://www.hallamtrads.co.uk Tune coll. Braithwell, S. Yorkshire 1907 R.A. Gatty A barber there was named Timothy Briggs Quite famous was he for a-making good wigs Until with a lass call'd Rebecca Bell Slap over his heels in love he fell Singing fol-the-rol-day, Right fol-the-day, right fol-the-day Right fol-the-laddy, Right fol-the-day The went to the church the knot for to tie To a wooden-legg'd parson named Jonathan Sly And sure, if you'd seen him you'd laughed at him plump As he mounted the pulpit with his old stump They'd only been married a week or two When Rebecca turned out a most terrible shrew No comfort have I with this woman he said I'll go back to the parson and I'll get unwed He went to the parson, said he, 'Mr Sly' If I live with this woman I surely shall die You said you would make us two into one I've come to see now if I can't be undone The parson he said, 'That's a thing rather new' I don't know that I'e power my flock to undo Here's hoping you'll lead a more happier life I'll go round to your house and I'll lecture your wife. Now the barber, quite pleased went taking his glass The old parson stumped off to lecture the lass But when he got home, Lor', what did he see? But the parson with Rebecca on top of his knee Now the barber bristled up every hair He said, Mr Parson what are you doing there? You said you wanted undoing my man, So you see I'm a doing it fast as I can I think I'm undone now if I never was before He kicked Mr Parson straight out through the door He lay in the street and his wooden leg stood Like a spade sticking up in a cartload of mud This couple from then they lived more reconciled But nine months from that day she brought him a child The barber hung himself up on a peg When he found his child born with a brand-new wooden leg. The following, while not strictly about a barber, has the distinction of being the only time a tune was collected with this text: A Nobby Head of Hair [Roud 12612] Source as above. You've call'd on me to sing a song, I'll try what I can do I don't say whether good or bad For that I'll leave to you The subject's now before you And I solemnly declare There's no-one in this street can sport Such a nobby head of hair When an infant, I a wonder was But upwards as i grew At school I so surprised the boys They in mobs around me flew But when a young man I had grown My mother said, if I took care I soon should catch an heiress With my nobby head of hair Although my hair is elegant It oft gets into scrapes At the Zoo, the other day Twas well pulled by the apes And making my escape from them I was grappled by a bear It fancied that I was its cub, With my nobby head of hair Not liking this brute treatment From the gardens I did roam I caught a lady ogling me I asked to see her home Her husband coming up the road He asunder did us tear Then he dragged me through a horse-pond By my nobby head of hair. He left me near dead with affright And wet through to the skin A mob soon came around me They did naught but jeer and grin A p'liceman took me in custody And solemnly did swear That I one of the swell mob was By my nobby head of hair To the magistrate my innocence I pleaded, but in vain He said to prison you mus go Your guilt it is quite plain So to the treadmill I was sent On the silent system there But what grieved me most was thy cut off My nobby head of hair But now that I am free again I'm happy as a king Thats one reason why tonight you see I have come here to sing But here's a fact you can't deny It is a thing most rare To see a handsome chap like me With such a nobby head of hair
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