The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #55345 Message #4114654
Posted By: Charley Noble
28-Jul-21 - 03:50 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Spanish Lady
Subject: RE: Origins: Spanish Lady
In Maine a Civil War major John Mead Gould composed a ditty inspired by Spanish Lady/Dublin City which celebrates a lady who ran a grog shop/brothel on the Portland waterfront in the 1860s. She called herself Kitty Kentuck but her legal name was Margaret Landrigan (1810 to 1866).
I only have access to a portion of the ditty. The bawdy verses may still be out there somewhere:
New words by Civil War Major John Mead Gould, circa 1863 Tune: traditional “Spanish Lady/Dublin City” A bit of rewording by Charlie Ipcar, 7/28/21
Kitty Kentuck
If you goes down to Portland City At the hour of twelve at night, There you’ll see my charming Kitty, Washin’ her feet by candlelight.
Chorus:
Kitty, won’t you larrow, laddy, Kitty, won’t you larrow-lee; Kitty don’t be lazy or I’ll go crazy, Come to the railway and have a spree.
I went down to Kitty Kentuck’s, I gets my whack* three times a day; Lay my digbats** on the table Four and six the bummers pay. (CHO)
Four and six for a pound of ‘bacca; Two and six for a pound of tea; How can we poor railroad racks***, E’r come to the bush and have a spree? (CHO)
* Whack is sailor slang for ration of rum ** Dingbats is also 19th century slang for money *** Racks may be slang for workers similar to referring to them as "stiffs"