The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #93871   Message #2094043
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
04-Jul-07 - 12:58 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Rigs of the Time / Rigs of the Times
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rigs of the Time / Rigs of the Times
There are 3 copies shown at the Bodleian, only one dated: Ballads Cat. 2806c.17(361), printed by W. Wright, Birmingham, between 1820-1831.
The text is the same as that of the broadside copied by Dixon, except in the last verse, 1st line, the song is 'jocous' rather than 'jovial'.
There are some 20-25 songs at the Bodleian, beginning with 'rigs;' some may be related. "The Rigs of the Races" begins "Good people draw near and listen to my ditty," so has the same form (Harding B179257a, Pitts London, between 1819-1849).

The "Rigs and Sprees of London" in an English broadside is in American Memory; the 'Rigs' songs probably got to America not long after their appearance in England.