Happily married, I often quote the song "Mrs Carter", which I first heard in 1981 on BBC Radio 'Folk on 2' sung by the amazing Cosmotheka. (I since got it on their album 'A Little Bit Off The Top'.) I see that it was previously sung by Gus Elen in the music halls but I haven't tracked down the lyrics. Here's my transcription of the last verse and chorus (please correct as necessary):

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"Now I'm absolutely sick of this 'ere life.
I gets quite exasperuted like and snappy.
Well I'll have to row with someone else's wife
'Cause it's a misery for me to be so 'appy.
I've done my very best to do my worst
All kind of provocation I've been giving.
If I don't soon 'ave a row I think I'll bust.
Allows the magistrate to get their living. (??)

Oh she's too good to live is Mrs Carter (??)
She's a tartar and I'm a martyr.
I feels just if I'd like to 'art her (??)
Upon my word she's awful aggravating.
Why don't she jaw a bit or cause a little riot somehow?
What's the use a couple's getting married at all
if they never 'as a bloomin' row?"
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The thing is, if she's a tartar then how come she doesn't even jaw a bit? Is this a different meaning of "tartar" ('a formidable, rough, unmanageable person' in my dictionary)?

What about the disturbing "she's too good to live" - Is he planning to kill her or am I just overanalyzing? My husband finds the song a bit alarming but I do find the last two lines of the chorus very useful for deflating any hint of marital disharmony. It's worked for 15 years so far!

Anyone out there who understands the music hall mentality or knows better about the lyrics?

Thanks, Catriona