The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #11468   Message #883107
Posted By: Jim Dixon
05-Feb-03 - 10:30 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Butter and cheese and all (Greasy Cook)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE COOK'S CHOICE
Found at Garry Gillard's website:

THE COOK'S CHOICE

What a pity it is to tease me or try me for to sing
When it does not lay in my power for to do any such thing,
But since that you have teased me so, I'll try what I can do,
And when I come to the chorus, why you must bawl out too,
    Why you must bawl out too.

It's of a cook I fell in love and the truth I don't deny.
For why a cook should have her choice I'll tell you the reason why,
Because she has plenty of mince pies, plum pudding and roast beef
And when my belly was empty she gave to me relief,
    She gave to me relief.

She sent me an invitation some supper for to take,
I kindly did accept it all for my belly's sake;
And after supper was over, of the cupboard I got the keys,
One pocket I crammed with butter and the other I stuffed with cheese,
    And the other I stuffed with cheese.

And supper being over about a half an hour or more,
When the master smelling of my cheese came tapping at the door,
And I not knowing where to hide up the chimney I did hide
And there I sat quite at my ease like a sweep exalted high,
    Like a sweep exalted high.

I hadn't been long there sitting, sitting at my ease
When the fire began to melt my butter, likewise to toast my cheese,
And every drop that fell in the fire it caused the fire to flare
And the old man looked up the chimney and he swore that Satan was there,
    He swore that Satan was there.

Then up to the chimney top he got and down some water poured,
And I came tumbling after my butter and cheese and all;
But I'm safe down from the chimney now with a smut and a greasy face
And out of the street door I nimbly ran and down the street I was chased,
    And down the street I was chased.

The dogs did bark, the children screamed, up flew the windows all,
And every soul cried out 'Well done' as loud as they could bawl;
So to make an end to my ditty, boys, I hope I arn't kept you long,
So we'll wish success to the chorus and sing another good song,
    And sing another good song.

[Collected by Bob Copper in about 1954 from a book left by John Johnson..., 1865-1943, in Fittleworth, Sussex: see Chapter Nine, pp. 83-9, of "Songs and Southern Breezes" for the details; and the appendix for these words.]