[Broadside from the Madden collection, reprinted in Holloway and Black's 'Later English Broadside Ballads', I, #58, p. 135, 1975]

JACK OF THE GREEN

It was in the month of May, when flowers were seen,
I saw a bonny lass with Jack upon the Green,
O how they hugg'd and kist, her call'd her his delight,
And told her, if she pleas'd, he would lie with her all night.

Fie young man, said she, your words do me affright,
To think that you should crave my maidenhead to-night,
I'd not for all the world with any man be seen,
My mammy she would say, we danc'd Jack on the Green.

He said, my joy, my only dear, I'll give you guineas two,
To grant me my request, all night to lie with you,
I will young man, said she, you creep behind the screen,
Whem my mammy is gone to bed, we'll dance Jack on the Green.

O then this couple parted, rejoicing she went home,
To think what sport she'd have, with her own dear John,
She kept her mammy in talk, Jack creeps behind the screen,
When her mamma was gone to bed, they danc'd Jack on the Green.

This couple fell to work, thinking they were not seen,
Whilst she learn'd these few steps, with Jack upon the Green,
Her mamma got out of bed, and by Jack was not seen,
And with an old besom's head she beat Jack off the Green.

Then Jack began to frown at feeling of the stick,
The cunning jad lay down, pretending to be sick,
Her mamma call'd her whore and sorry dirty quaen,
For learning those few steps with Jack upon the green.

Her mamma she laid on, she brake the besom's tail,
Then to get out of doors young Jack he did prevail,
He made a solemn vow he'd never more be seen
Along with a bonny lass, to dance Jack upon the Green.

I have two old tunes, but no song called "Kiss me quick, my mother's coming". Don't think that "Kissing at Window" (not in DT?) was just that. It's based on an old tale like our song above, but when mother came the young man hid in the WC. When he felt a cough coming on, in order to not be heard he stuck his head into the close-stool, and it was the toilet seat, not a window frame, around his neck as he off ran down the street.

[Bodleian MS Eng. poet. f. 25, fol. 67v. c 1615. Cf. 'Pepys Ballads', I, 326. Unfortunately, no tune.]

Tee hee, nay fye love, Lord wt do you meane
Some body will spye us, in faith we are seen
Now Love will yow kisse me, fye fye Love away
The aire is a telltale, and it will us betray
Nay fie Love, away Love, I pray you be gone
My mother knows nothing, but that I'me alone.

Heigh, heigh, my harte, a kisse for feare of ye worst
I pray you be quiet, I thinke yow're abrust
With nothing content, such can yow not rest
Nay looke now, hold off, or in faith yow had best
Harke some bodye calls me, I pray you begone,
My mother knows nothing, but that I'me alone.

So so for shame leave, thy's lost yowr owen guise
Truth next time I meet you, I sel be more prise
yow shall not come neer me, well since it is past
I'le never more meet yow, this shall be the last
Reply not, be silent, I pray yow begone,
My mother knows nothing, but that I'me alone.

^^