The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #150251   Message #3507192
Posted By: Steve Gardham
22-Apr-13 - 03:11 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Rose-Briar Motif
Subject: RE: Origins: Rose-Briar Motif
Funny you should mention Roy, Jim.
He was at the presentation I gave at C#H. He actually complemented me on my presentation. I'd be quite happy to ask Roy to adjudicate on this one. He's pretty much an expert on broadsides himself.

Butter &CAA, otherwise known on broadsides as 'Cook's Courtship'. The cook is obviously the cook in the kitchen of one of those old houses with a 'master' who discovers her little bit of fun. These old houses generally had a large open fire place to burn wood, the type you could walk into. Not the type you could climb up using spread hands and feet but some form of climbing aid like rungs or protruding bricks.

Broken Token
Again, Jim, I'm not sure what you're saying here. A broken token is precisely what it says on the bottle, a token of some sort that is roughly broken in half so that when placed together only these 2 pieces will join exactly. The item was usually a ring for pretty obvious reasons, but occasionally a coin or something similar, and they were just as common in the 18th century as the 19th and I wouldn't be surprised if even earlier though I can't think of an example off-hand. (unintended). If you're asking if there are broken token songs from the 18th century I'd say I'm pretty certain yes, but I'd have to go and check.

On several occasions I have stated that my conclusions are largely based on stylistic qualities within the ballads themselves. This obviously varies from ballad to ballad, which is why it would be better to select and discuss individual ballads as examples and this is why I have been offering for you to choose those examples yourself.
More shortly.