Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen

Subject: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: Fuzzywunkle
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:29 PM

OK, so I'm not too much of a musician (well, I do play the recorder, but not seriously), however, I am an author...and I have a question that I haven't been able to find the answer to. Perhaps someone on here knows.

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure of when Courtin' In the Kitchen was written? I would like to have a character singing it in a book I'm working on and I would like to be sure that it was in existance when he's singing it.

Silly question, but who do you ask?

Thanks

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From:
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:47 PM

2nd half of 19th century, probably 1860-80. What tune do you have?. I've only heard it sung to "Bob and Joan", but I understand there's another tune for it.

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: DonMeixner
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:52 PM

I have it between the 1860's and WWI as a guess with two different sets of words. Since I can't read music I must say I can't verify the tunes but the words scanned well either way to either tune.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: _gargoyle
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 01:32 AM

Courtin' In The Kitchen...is not found at the Duke University Archieves, or at the Library of Congress. (which is NOT saying that it does not exist!!)

However, the LOC does have Sparking in the Kitchen (easy to see confusion since the words are synonamous.) With a little luck you will find it here Sparking in the Kitchen

The American Memory Section at the LOC has a wonderful Amereican Sheet Music Collection 1870-1875

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: _gargoyle
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 01:35 AM

The links work...

use the "page turner" at the top of the page for the first and third pages.

The song uses the word "courting."

Rather a cute song.

Hope this helps you out.

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: _gargoyle
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 01:43 AM

Whhhooooppppssss!

There is the Irish Song by that title. And NO similarity to the American "Sparking"

COORTIN' IN THE KITCHEN

Come single belle and beau, unto me pay attention,
Don't ever fall in love, it's the divil's own invention,
For once I fell in love with a damsel most bewitchin',
Miss Henrietta Bell, down in Captain Kelly's kitchen.

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: Bruce O.
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 12:54 PM

I wasn't at home where I could check dates for the 2nd post above. The first of 3 copies in the Bodley Ballads collection was printed by W. S. Fortey between 1845 amd 1882. I know nothing of the dates of the printers of the other 2 copies, but they would appear to be about the range.

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 07:17 PM

THe tune I've heard is the same as Unfortunate Miss Bailey
AKA "Hunters of Kentucky"

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: Fuzzywunkle
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:09 PM

Thanks to everyone who responded!

Not quite old enough, as I suspected. Can anyone give me a fairly humerous song that dates to the late 18th century? Can be either American, Irish or English in origin.

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: Bruce O.
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 03:33 AM

Hunters of Kentucky =Unfortunate Miss Bailey"=Golden Days of Good Queen Bess. Originally "Ally Croker". See DT or my website, where "Ally Croaker" (Alicia Croker) song and tune are given. (So is "Bob and Joan/The Rakes of Stoney Batter", but tune is Scots "Keys of the Cellar")
www.erols.com/olsonw

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: Murray on Saltspring
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 05:38 PM

Dear Fuzzywunkle: Maybe it would help if you told us a) the approximate date when your character is singing [so that we don't get anachronistic] and b) maybe a rough idea of how humorous the thing has to be. Maybe some of the context? There's quite a few songs that would fit, I think. And where's he singing? Country, I mean? A tavern or a genteel supper-party? etc.

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 01:32 PM

Might as well refresh this old thread!

Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: COURTING IN THE KITCHEN
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 04:27 PM

COURTING IN THE KITCHEN

Young single men a warning take, and mark well what I mention,
And love, I'll quickly prove, is the devil's own invention,
For I was caught full in a trap by a housemaid so bewitching,
Who gammoned me with toast and tea to make love in the kitchen.

With a whack row de dow, etc.

I used to go my daily rounds with ham and eggs and butter,
And when I saw Miss Mary's face it put me in a flutter;
She used to look so sweet at me, as the gammon I kept pitching
And she to tea invited me down in her master's kitchen.

On Sunday was the happy day I went to have a flare-up,
And dressed myself so spruce and gay, and frizzed and oiled my hair up;
Her master being a single man, went out a-fishing,
And we had all the house to ourselves, and went courting in the kitchen.

Then we larked about and romp'd about as long as we were able
And the clock was striking six we both sat down to table.
She handed me the toast and tea with brandy so enriching,
Till I hardly knew what I was at, while courting in the kitchen.

Then I put my arms around her waist, and kiss'd and promised marriage,
When at the door came knocks a score, 'twas master in his carriage!
I felt my courage fade away, in my side I felt a stitch in,
And wish'd myself in Jerico, anywhere but in the kitchen.

Then up the stairs she flew like mad, full 5 feet 5 or higher,
And over head and heels knocked me, slap bang into the fire,
My trousers white and fancy vest and new coat with double stitching,
Was on my back to tinder burnt, all through courting in the kitchen.

She laughed to see my Sunday togs a heap of smoking ashes,
And a pail of dirty slops and slush bang in my face she dashes,
While I was rolling on the floor into me she kept pitching,
Till I was nearly drowned and burnt through courting in the kitchen.

Then her master he came down the stairs, and saw my situation
And spite of all my sighs and tears they dragged me to the station,
They would not take a bail for me, though to get out I was itching,
For I could not give a good account what I'd been doing in the kitchen.

Says I, she did invite me there, but she gave me a flat denial,
And charged me with a gross assault, and I was sent for trial,
She swore that I'd advantage took, in spite of all her screeching,
And I had to grind the mill three months, for courting in the kitchen.

When I came out, I was not stout and had the county crop,
And I'd lost my character, of course I lost my shop;
So all young men a warning take, when for love you feel an itching,
Do your business on the area steps, but keep out of the kitchen.

With my whack row de dow, etc.

Bodleian Ballads, Firth c.18(175); 1858-1885. Printed at the Catnach Press by W. B. Fortney, Monmouth Court, Bloomsbury, London.

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 04:30 PM

More in the Bodleian. Some have the chorus "With my tooral, etc."

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 06:39 PM

A little late in noticing the 18th c. requirement. One I think is good is Sir John Barleycorn- it is about the trials and tribulations of barley, from growing to various uses, not about drunkenness.

Lets see If this works: Old Stuff
A good list of ca. 18c. material, with notes.

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 06:40 PM

One of my bookmarks- why??

Subject: RE: Help: Courtin' In The Kitchen
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 07:30 PM

: instead of ". Gee! Why doesn't it read what is in my mind? Old Songs