The version I have is from the singing of Frank Shergold, who was the squire, I believe, of Bampton Morris in Oxfordshire for a long time until maybe a couple of years ago. It's on a cassette tracing their history, I've searched the house for it in the middle of writing this but can't find it so can't tell you more at the moment.


BUTTER AND CHEESE AND ALL
(from the singing of Frank Shergold)

I think it's very unkind of you to ask me for to sing
For it doesn't lie within me power to do any such a thing
But seeing as you've asked me, I'll see what I can do
But when it comes to the chorus, you all must help me too, you all must help me too.

I fell in love with a loverly cook, the truth I can't deny,
But why a cook should be my wife, I'll tell you the reason why
For she had plenty of mince pies, plum puddings and roast beef
And when my belly was empty, she gave to me relief, she gave to me relief.

I received an invitation some supper for to take,
And gladly did accept it all for my belly's sake.
And after supper was over, of the cupboard she took the keys,
One pocket she crammed with butter, the other she filled with cheese, the other she filled with cheese.

I hadn't been sitting there very long not half an hour or more,
When master of the house came home rat-tatting at the door
And I not knowing where to hide, up the chimney I did fly,
And there I sat on a catalogue like a sweep exalted high, like a sweep exalted high

Oh I hadn't been sitting there very long a taking of my ease
When the fire started to melt me butter, likewise to toast me cheese
And every drop that fell down below, it made the fire to flare
Master looked up the chimney and he swore the old devil was there, he swore the old devil was there.

They climbed up to the chimney top, and poured some water down
They swilled me out of the bottom and I ran up to town
As I did run, the dogs did bark, the children loudly squall
All the women cried 'oh well-a- day, there goes butter and cheese and all, there goes butter and cheese and all'.

Regards,
Liz