The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #44718   Message #663405
Posted By: GUEST
05-Mar-02 - 10:32 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Some Say That Kissing's a Sin
Subject: Lyr Add: SOME SAY THAT KISSING'S A SIN (Scottish)
Chambers said the tune was "The Mautman" (The Maultman comes on Monday). It's in 'The Scots Musical Museum', #433, and earlier in Oswald's CPC, book 9 (c 1759), and earlier in the Cuming MS, 1723, as "The Maltman or Roger the Cavalier". This last brings us to it's earlier English title of 'Roger de Coverly" in Playford's 'Divison Violin', 1685, and 'The Dancing Master', 1696. If you can't find the Playford tune on the Playford-Dancing Master website, you can find it in Wm. Chappell's PMOT, II, p. 535.

The text above has been tinkered with. The way Chambers actually gave it is as follows: [indent even numbered lines

Some say that kissing's a sin,
But I think it's nane ava,
For kissing has wonned in the warld,
Since ever that there was twa.

O, if it wasna lawfu',
Lawyers wandna allow it;
If it wasna holy,
Ministers wadna do it.

It it wasna modest,
Maidens wadna tak it;
If it wasna plenty,
Puir folk wadna get it!

Bring a' your maut to me,
Bring a your maut to me;
My draff ye'se get for ae pund ane,
Though a' my deukies should dee.

..................

That last verse is obviously a fragment of "The Maultman", and not part of the song.