The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #1239   Message #4208710
Posted By: Lighter
22-Sep-24 - 09:02 AM
Thread Name: Origins: She Had a Dark and a Rovin' Eye
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: She Had a Dark and a Rovin' Eye
As mentioned earlier, the modern song utilizes the tune - and the theme of deception by a woman) of George Ware's 1863 patter song, "She'd a Black and a Rolling Eye." Kudos to John Baxter for calling this to our attention:

https://folksongandmusichall.com/index.php/shed-a-black-and-rolling-eye-railway-version/

You can here Bill Botting's performance of Ware's song in Sussex in 1968 here:

https://sussextraditions.org/record/black-and-rolling-eye-the/