The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7920   Message #3025434
Posted By: Steve Gardham
06-Nov-10 - 05:16 PM
Thread Name: Origins: William Taylor
Subject: RE: Origins: William Taylor
Yes, like Such's copy, most of the 19thc printings commencing 'I'll sing you a song about two lovers' have the same 11 stanzas as the Such copy going back to Pitts and Catnach but the 'Billy Taylor' burlesque commencing 'Billy Taylor was a brisk/gay young fellow' was printed in London at least as early as 1802 and was still popular in the 1850s being sung by Sam Cowell. Most versions of this on broadsides have 10 stanzas but some, like Cowell's have 11 stanzas and a typical burlesque refrain of 'tol de rol etc.'. Slightly earlier versions with various titles and 11 stanzas commence 'William was a youthful lover'.
Only the 2 early 18th century versions have more than 11 stanzas to the best of my knowledge.