Here are the notes from Penguin:

The Man of Burningham Town
(FSJ IV 84)
Another homilectic ballad that, like "The Daughter of Peggy" and "On Monday Morning," treats of a drastic cure for errant wives. Among H. E. D. Hammond's manuscripts is a version of this song (called The Man of Dover) collected in Dorset in 1905. E. J. Moeran published a Norfolk version (FSJ VII 8). Our words are filled out from these two sets. The singer sang 'Burningham', apparently meaning Burnham (on Crouch), not Birmingham.

---

And from the Traditional Ballad Index:

Man of Burningham Town, The

DESCRIPTION: A man of (Burningham) goes to sea; his wife spends her time carousing. He returns to see her out on the town; he sneaks home and sends the maid to announce his arrival. She proclaims her delight, but he beats her with a rope. She promises to reform.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1904 (Sharp MS)
KEYWORDS: infidelity marriage warning return abuse humorous sailor
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South,Lond))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Vaughan Williams/Lloyd, pp. 68-69, "The Man of Burningham Town" (1 text, 1 tune)
Kennedy 195, "The Birmingham Boys" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #665
RECORDINGS:
Harry Cox, "The Birmingham Man" (on HCox01)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Man of Burnham Town
In Burnham Town
The Man of Dover
File: VWL068

---

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2004 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.