Origins: When a Chap Comes Hame/Roarin' Fire

Subject: Origins: When a Chap Comes Hame
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Dec 20 - 10:35 PM

I came across this when I was looking for another song. As far as I can tell, no versions of this song have been posted.

WHEN A CHAP COMES HAME

Some people say it’s jolly for a single life to lead
But they only talk for talking’s sake and so I never heed.
A single life is very good it may be gay and free
But the comforts o’ a married life is suited best for me.

CHORUS
Wi’ a guid rovin fire an the kettle at the boil
It mak's a chap feel happy when he's done his daily toil.
Wi’ a tidy smilin’ wife an’ a clean hearthstone
It ’s awfu ’ awfu cosy when a chap comes hame.

Oh what could be more pleasing when a hard day’s work is done
To meet your wife wi’ loving smiles an’ see the bairnies run.
The air seems filled wi’ music as you hear their voices ring
An’ the very kettle on the hob wi’ gladness seems to sing.

Of all the pleasures of this world the only one in life
Is when a man knows that he’s got a clean and tidy wife.
His house is like a palace and he never wants to roam
For he knows a clean and tidy wife can make a happy home.

JAMES OGSTON 4 G

#1070 in The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Volume 5, page 581

Melody transcribed upon request - [e-mail]

Roud Number 6301

Subject: Origins:When a Chap Comes Hame/Good Roarin' Fire
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Dec 20 - 10:38 PM

Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry:

Good Roarin' Fire, A

DESCRIPTION: "Wi' the day's work done," these things make the singer happy to come home: "a good roarin' fire," "your childer lep an' run," a "wife is kind an' happy," "a clean-swep' stone."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1911 (GreigDuncan5)
KEYWORDS: home work fire nonballad children wife
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber)) Ireland Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Greig #167, p. 2, "When a Chap Comes Hame" (1 text)
GreigDuncan5 1070, "When a Chap Comes Hame" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Hayward-Ulster, p. 32, "A Good Roarin' Fire" (1 text)
Guigné, pp. 38-41, "The Big Roaring Fire (A Good Roaring Fire; A Tidy Smilin' Wifey)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #6301
RECORDINGS:
Angus McDonald, "Home From the War" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
Jim Rice, "Roarin' Fire" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
File: HayU032

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Subject: ADD Version: A Good Roaring Fire
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Dec 20 - 10:51 PM

A GOOD ROARING FIRE
(Johnny Patterson)

A good roarin' fire and the kettle on the boil,
It makes a chap feel jolly when he’s done his daily toil.
A tidy smilin’ wife and a clean hearth-stone,
O it's very, very cosy when a chap comes home.

Three or four around it and a good bit on the board,
It makes a chap feel happy as the daddy of a lord.
A tidy smilin’ wife and a clean hearth-stone,
O it's very, very jolly when a chap comes home.

To meet your wife in kindness and to see the children run,
Your home is like a palace and you never need to roam,
A tidy smilin' wife and a clean hearth-stone,
O, it's very, very cosy when a chap comes home.


Walton's New Treasury of Irish Songs and Ballads
Published by Walton's Musical Instrument Galleries, Publications Department, Dublin
Part 2, page 93

Subject: ADD Version: Roarin' Fire (from Jim Rice)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Dec 20 - 10:59 PM

And there's a transcript with a field recording at "MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada":

https://www.mun.ca/folklore/leach/songs/NFLD1/4-09.htm

ROARIN' FIRE

Of all the pleasures in this world the dearest one in life
When a man knows he's got a clean and tidy wife
His house is like a palace so he may never roam
For a clean and tidy wife makes a true and happy home

CHORUS: With a big roaring fire a kettle on to boil
Makes a man feel happy when he's done his daily toil
With a smiling tidy wife and a clean hearthstone
Very very cozy when a man comes home

Now what man can be happier when his days work is done
To meet his wife with kindly smiles and to see the children run
The air seems full of music but their voices seem to ring
While the merry kettle on the hearth with gladness seems to sing

CHORUS:
With a big roaring fire a kettle on to boil
Makes a man feel happy when he's done his daily toil
With a smiling tidy wife and a clean hearthstone
Very very cozy when a man comes home

Some people think it's jolly a single life to lead
It's only just for talking's sake but that I'll never heed
A single life it's very good it might be gay and free
But the comforts of a married life are just the ones for me

CHORUS: With a big roaring fire a kettle on to boil
Makes a man feel happy when he's done his daily toil
With a smiling tidy wife and a clean hearthstone
Very very cozy when a man comes home

https://www.mun.ca/folklore/leach/sounds/NFLD1/4-09.mp3

Subject: RE: Origins: When a Chap Comes Hame/Roarin' Fire
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 20 - 12:55 PM

Here's another to add, Joe.

https://digital.nls.uk/broadsides/view/?id=14919