I have this song from an old acetate disc, circa 1949-51.
I tried googling pieces of lyrics but there's nothing about the song on the net and this seems like the best site so ask for more information.

I posted the song here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNS13R2a3xE

It's a home recording by someone who owned their own disc cutter, so it'd be what you call a field recording... but there were other discs among the collection that were copies of commercial discs (recorded by putting the microphone next to a gramophone) so that's a possibility also but I think because of the acoustics it's more likely to be a field recording.

Does anyone recognise the singer or have any information about the song itself. Are the lyrics documented in a book perhaps?


A Tinker's Life

Now a Tinker's life's a jolly one a tinker's life is gay
He drives his cart to many a part a different place each day
Takes his fun with many a one deny it if you can
Wherever I go the girls all know I'm a regular handyman
Yes wherever I go the girls all know I'm a regular handyman

I was jogging along to Salisbury just after break of day
There I spied a pretty young gal a walking by the way
As I overtook she give me a look which caused me for to say
There's room beside if you'd like to ride with a handyman today
Yes there's room beside if you'd like to ride with a handyman today

So up she jumps and down she bumps beside me with a laugh
She'd such a dainty ankle and she'd such a pretty calf
And blow me eyes to my surprise I couldn't help but see
That her garter wide had come untied and slipped below her knee
Yes her garter wide had come untied and slipped below her knee

Now would you be so kind sir would you be so free
As to fasten up me garter one inch above me knee
When we get to yonder bank I'll fasten it up for thee
For a tinker is a handyman as handy as can be
Yes a tinker is a handyman as handy as can be

Now upon the bank the maiden sank to do what was required
And swelt me bob I did the job the same as she desired
But when the job was over and done we noticed with a laugh
That the garter on the other leg had slipped below her calf
Yes the garter on the other leg had slipped below her calf

Now a tinker is the kind of cove who's never known to shirk
He makes a stand and puts his hand to every kind of work
To keep his reputation up he tries you may be sure
So I fixed the other garter as I fixed the one before
Yes I fixed the other garter as I fixed the one before

Oh tinker dear I greatly fear it was very wrong of me
To let you be so frolicsome to let you be so free
I was a maid but I'm afraid I'll never be the same
So if you'd like to marry me I'm ready to change me name
Yes if you'd like to marry me I'm ready to change me name

Now a tinker likes a bit of fun he likes a bit of sport
But when it comes to marriage well he's not the marrying sort
But if you'd like to stay with me and be me fancy gal
You can jog along beside me with a tinker for a pal
You can jog along beside me with a tinker for a pal

For a tinker's life's a jolly one a tinker's life is prime
I'll repeat it's hard to beat a tinker every time
And jogging about without a doubt is a thing that gals adore
So we'll jog along together as we jogged along before
Yes we'll jog along together as we jogged along before