Lyr Req: With me Cattle Smock on / Kettle Smock

Subject: Lyr Req: With me Cattle Smock on
From: Bert
Date: 06 Apr 08 - 11:58 PM

I'm guessing that it predates "With me navvy Boots on". One is obviously a derivitive of the other.

Come on Mudcatters let's have the full lyrics.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE KETTLE SMOCK (from Cecil Sharp)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Apr 08 - 01:34 AM

Roud 516: only one listed that fits, though there are other versions, textually very close, where it is a 'courting coat'.

Cecil Sharp got 'The Kettle Smock', from William Stokes at Chew Stoke, Somerset, in August 1906. The text (without its tune) was printed in James Reeves, The Idiom of the People, London: Heinemann, 1958, 139-140. I don't know of any other printing (except possibly an appearance in Tony McCarthy, Bawdy British folk songs, 1972). One Chas McDevitt seems to have recorded a 'Cattle Smock' back in 1966, but I wouldn't know if it was the same one. Where did you hear it?


THE KETTLE SMOCK (from Cecil Sharp)

A-shailing and toiling as I was one day
The thought of my love it led me astray
The day it was gone and the night coming on
And I ran away with my kettle smock on.

When to my love's window crying Are you in bed?
No sooner she heard me she lifted her head.
She lifted her head and cried Is that John?
Yes indeed it is me with my kettle smock on.

She opened the door and invited me in
Draw up to the fire and warm up your shin.
The bedroom door opened and blankets turned down
And I rolled into bed with my kettle smock on.

We tumbled and tasted till the break of day
Forgetting the hours that we passed away
Till my love she jumped up and cried What have you done
The baby will come with a kettle smock on.

I chastised my love for speaking so wild
You stupid young girl you'll ne'er have a child
For all that I've done I reckon but fun
And I ran away with my kettle smock on.

So come all you young maidens where'er you may be
Remember the chaps that are single and free
For their hearts d'run light and their minds d'run young
So beware of the chaps with the kettle smocks on.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: With me Cattle Smock on
From: 8_Pints
Date: 07 Apr 08 - 07:36 AM

Many thanks for this.

John Kirkpatrick sang this on Saturday but didn't finish it.

Bob vG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: With me Cattle Smock on
From: Bert
Date: 07 Apr 08 - 04:42 PM

Great, Thanks Malcolm.