JAN'S COURTSHIP

Coom 'ither, zon Jan, zinz thou art a man
I'll gie the best counsel in life.
Coom sit down by me and my story shall be
I'll tell how to get thee a wife,
...Iss I will, man I will, zoor I will
...I'll tell how to get thee a wife,
...Iss I will.

Thyzelf thou must dress in thy Zunday-go-best
They'll at first turn away and be shy.
But boldly kiss each pretty maid that thou seest
They'll call thee their luv by and by
...Iss they will, man they will, zoor they will
...They'll call thee their luv by and by
...Iss they will.

So a-coortin' Jan goes, in 'is 'oliday clothes
All trim, nothin' ragged and torn.
From 'is 'at to 'is 'ose, with a sweet yellow rose
'E looked like a gentleman born,
...Iss 'e did, man 'e did, zoor 'e did.
...'E looked like a gentleman born,
...Iss he did.

The first pretty lass that Jan did see pass
A Varmer's Vat daughter called Grace
'E'd scarce said How-do and a kind word or two
'Er fetched 'im a slap in the face
...Iss 'er did, man 'er did, zoor 'er did.
...'Er fetched 'im a slap in the face!
...Iss 'er did.

As Jan, never fear-id of nothin' at all,
Was walkin' a-down by the locks
'E kissed the parson's wife, which stirred up a strife
And Jan was put into the stocks,
...Iss 'e was, man 'e was, zoor 'e was
...And Jan was put into the stocks
...Iss 'e was.

"If this be the way how to get me a wife,"
Quoth Jan, "I will never have none!
I'd rather live zingle the 'ole of me life
And 'ome to me mummy I'll run,
...Iss I will, man I will, zoor I will
...And 'ome to me mummy I'll run
...Iss I will!"

DRO
From the singing of Wallace House, Folkways, 1952.
As should be plain from the rhymes, "Jan" is pronounced "John".

Dave Oesterreich ^^