Chimney Sweep - erotic song?

Subject: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: GUEST,Murray on Salt Spring
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 02:39 AM

I'm annotating a song about seduction by various trades, and while the tinker is no problem, I'm stymied by a chimney sweep. ARE there any songs about seduction [or just advances] made by a sweep? I'm sure there must be some, the metaphors would be obvious.

Subject: RE: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: pavane
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:09 AM

Have you checked at the Bodleian library? Broadsides of all varieties there

Bodleian ballad library

Even if no sweeps, there are lots of others.

Subject: RE: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:15 AM

There is a verse from "Early in the Morning"

I'll be up your flue next week,
I'll be up your flue next week,
Right now I'm up some other woman's flue,
It's as much as I can do,
But I'll do your upstairs and your down,
It'll only cost you half a crown,
I'll be up with my brush and down like a thrush,
And I'll be up your flue next week

Subject: RE: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: davyr
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 04:17 AM

How about "Sweep, chimney sweep"? The girls must have been coming unto his door for some reason...

http://www.thecopperfamily.com/songs/coppersongs/sweep.html

Subject: ADD: Chimbley Sweep - Dylan Thomas
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 07:54 AM

There's a song that was sung in the BBC production of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, which was about chimney sweeps, and was definitely of the double entendre variety.

It's sung by Mr Waldo

Chimbley Sweep (Dylan Thomas - from Under Milk Wood)

In Pembroke City when I was young
I lived by the Castle Keep
Sixpence a week was my wages
For working for the chimbley-sweep.
Six cold pennies he
gave me Not a farthing more or less
And all the fare I could afford
Was parsnip gin and watercress.
I did not need a knife and fork
Or a bib up to my chin
To dine on a dish of watercress
And a jug of parsnip gin.
Did you ever hear a growing boy
To live so cruel cheap
On grub that has no flesh and bones
And liquor that makes you weep?
Sweep sweep chimbley sweep,
I wept through Pembroke City
Poor and barefoot in the snow
Till a kind young woman took pity.
Poor little chimbley sweep she said
Black as the ace of spades
O nobody's swept my chimbley
Since my husband went his ways
Come and sweep my chimbley
Come and sweep my chimbley
She sighed to me with a blush
Come and sweep my chimbley
Come and sweep my chimbley
Bring along your chimbley brush!


Giok

Subject: RE: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 09:39 AM

On the same lines as DaveS:

The lodging house I live in - it drives me off my dot
The landlady there she's very nice, but a smokey flue she's got.
This morning she came up to me as I was coming down
And she said 'Mister, can you sweep my flue?' I said 'I'm off to town.
But I'll be up your way next week, I'll be up your way next week.
I've just swept out another woman's flue and my brush is bent and it won't suit you.
I always like to do the job as well as any sweep
You'll be singing like a thrush when I get my second brush -
I'll be up your way next week'

Subject: RE: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 11:42 AM

Maggie Hammons Parker (Pocahontas County, WV) sang a song she called "Little Tom Car." It does not say that Tom is a chimney sweept but he does enter a maiden's bedroom via the chimney to avoid her parents.

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 12:57 PM

There are several 'Chimney sweep' song sheets at the Bodleian. It seems to me these songs came up last year but I can't remember the thread. None erotic, if I remember.

In the Bodleian, linked above by Pavanne, enter Chimney in Browse Index and their names and links are shown.

Subject: RE: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 08:45 PM

Chim Chiminey
Chim Chiminey
Chim Chim Cheree
HMMMMM
What exactly was Dick Van Dyke up to with Mary Poppins?

Subject: RE: Chimney Sweep - erotic song?
From: Artful Codger
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 08:56 PM

Just to clarify, the "Chimbley Sweep" song in "Under Milk Wood" is an original part of Dylan Thomas's play; the script even provides the tune.