JAN KNUCKEY

Refrain: Johnny will you come along now
Or Johnny will you wait for a while-o
Come along John with your big boots on
Johnny will you wait for a while

Jan Knuckey was a miner bold as ever went to bal
And cruel good could wrastle too and throw a tidy fall

Now up along to Churchtown lived a fine and spanking dame-a
She was pure stout, so was her purse, Aunt Gracie was her name

Boy Jan he fetched his cowas one day to speak his mind to Grace
But when he got inside the door he didn't have the face

Then, said he, 'Hello my love when shall we be asked out
Leave you and me keep company' – the answer was a clout

'Aw! Leave us 'ave no fuss', says Jan, 'pray don't ee take amiss
Dear Grace, I ask before I go you leave me 'ave a kiss'

But Grace's dander now was up, she screeched and howled by turns
She picked poor Jan up by the scruff and throwed him through the durns

Traditional Cornish

Source: Recorded by Crowdy Crawn (Brenda Wootton and Robert Bartlett) 'No Song to Sing' Sentinel SENS 1021.

Note: 'fetched his cowas' = plucked up his courage and 'durns' = doorway.