The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #74176   Message #1293254
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
09-Oct-04 - 03:17 PM
Thread Name: Origins: The Dodger Song
Subject: ADD: The Cheating Tradesmen
That's 1819-1844. There is a copy with a date of 1832, but I haven't seen it.

The song is still earlier. An undated sheet at the Bodleian, "The Cheating Tradesmen" (tradsemen, sic) has the old 's' so probably is 1800-1820. Badly printed; lyrics not corrected.
^^
The Cheating Tradesmen

Scarce any Trade or calling
That you have heard of yet
But what if they intend to thrive
Must now be forced to cheat.

Refrain: and a cheating we will go will go will go.

The Landlord does the Farmer wrong
In raising of his rent
And to help him o'ra the stile agen
The cheat about is sent etc.

He makes the baker pay full dear
So hardly does he bite
Which the baker to fetch up again
Can make his bread to light etc.

The Brewer in that method too
Is very apt to fall
For every one that drinks can tell
He makes his beer to small etc.

The Butcher would perswade you
That honestly he'll deal
But there are few but what can tell
How they blow up their veal etc.

The Uintnar (vintner?) says in honesty
He tekes the greatest pleasure
While the meantime he nick and froth
And let you want your measure etc.

If you shou'd a Physician want,
To ease you of your pain
Your sure he'll keep you long in hand
To have the greater gain etc.

Thus every man but little cares
For those that are his friends
For any trick or art they use
To gain their prixate ends etc. (private)

If you shou'd chance to go to law
For matters great or small
In the conclusion you will find
The Lawyers do get all.

And if you want a taylor
A suit of cloaths (?) to make
Their c--- so common is (cheating?)
One yard in three the'll make.

Bodleian Library, Harding B17(48b); no date, printer not indicated.