The Crockery Ware
fragment (italics) from Carrie Grover, Gorham Maine 10/29/1943 recorded by Eloise Hubbard Linscott #328A
Tune almost identical to one collected by Dr Edward Ives from Linus Christopher, Tignish PEI Canada August 26, 1965
Additional lyrics from various other traditional sources

A young man lived in Belfast town and he courted a girl called Sally Brown
A young man lived in Belfast town and he courted a girl called Sally Brown
He asked her for a favour bright that he might sleep with her all night

Chorus
To me right fa la to me toor aye ah
Right fa la to me toor aye ay

Well this fair maid gave her consent and straight up to her room she went
Well this fair maid gave her consent and straight up to her room she went
And on the landing placed a chair and under the chair was the crockery ware


That young man he got up in the night looking for his heart’s delight
That young man he got up in the night looking for his heart’s delight
He stubbed his toe upon the chair and overturned the crockery ware


Her mother woke in a terrible fright and ran upstairs with the candle light
Her mother woke in a terrible fright and ran upstairs with the candle light
She says, "Young man what do you there a-breaking all my crockery ware?"

He said, "Old woman don't look so cross I missed my way and I fear I'm lost
He said, "Old woman don't look so cross I missed my way and I fear I'm lost
I missed my way and I do declare, I broke me toe on your crockery ware"


Now this young maid in bed did lie, Laughing at the trick that she had played
Now this young maid in bed did lie, Laughing at the trick that she had played
She said, "Young man I do declare, You’ll pay my mother for the crockery ware!"


The police were sent for right away, And, sure enough, he had to pay
The police were sent for right away, And, sure enough, he had to pay
A dollar for the broken chair, And one pound ten for her crockery ware


Come all you rambling roving sparks, Who go a-courting in the dark
Come all you rambling roving sparks, Who go a-courting in the dark
Don’t stub your toe against a chair Or you will fall in the crockery ware