Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: and e
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 08:26 AM

shoot the cat v.1 [late 19C+] to have sexual intercourse.

Pg 1274, Cassell's Dictionary of Slang, Jonathan Green (editor).


See online: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Cassell_s_Dictionary_of_Slang/5GpLcC4a5fAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22shoot+the+Cat%22+slang&pg=PA1274&printsec=frontcover

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: and e
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 07:38 AM

SHOOT THE CAT

VERSE 1
Nellie was a milk maid
So fair and so gay
Had a mind for to choose
And a mind for to take
So, she questioned Mr. Rogers
For to take her to th wake

VERSE 2
Go to th wake, Mr. Rogers
He'll be there
An' he'll roll you in his arms
An' he'll keep you from the storms
And you'll be late
Gettin' home in th morn

VERSE 3
Th wake be'in over
And Nell a be'in scorned
Mr. Rogers and Miss Nellie
Went thru a field of corn
Mr. Rogers says, Miss Nellie
Let's set down and take a chat
An' I'll show you th game
That they call shoot th cat

VERSE 4
They set down
As I do suppose
Mr. Rogers begin
To pull up Nellie's clothes
Miss Nellie says, Mr. Rogers
What you goin' do to that?
Nothing, Miss Nellie
But I'm goin' to shoot your cat

VERSE 5
Six months all over
All over an' gone
Her apron wouldn't tie
An' her corset wouldn't lap
And she laid it to th game
That they call
Shoot th cat

VERSE 6
Nine months all over
All over an' gone
Miss Nellie become th mother
Of a darlin' little son
She says, Mr. Rogers
You can call it that for your sake
But I'll call it shoot th cat
Goin' home from th wake

As sung by Fred High of High, Arkansas on February 12, 1958,
The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection, Missouri State University,
Cat. #0027 (MFH #563),


Recording, text, and music available online here:


https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=27

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 07:11 PM

Peter Nerváez, "Of Corpse" (Utah State U.P., 2003):

                

                         SHOOT THE CAT

Nellie was the prettiest girl that ever you did see,
Oft times she [was] asked to a dance or a spree                                 
And she was asked a question and the answer for to make,
And she kindly asked her Mrs. could she go to the wake.
Yay, yay, fell the dee, don’t you know what I mean?

Yes, you may go but be civil and beware,
For Johnny is going and you know he will be there.
He will kiss you and he’ll court you, and he’ll keep your belly warm,
And perhaps you will be sorry coming home in the morn.
Yay, yay, fell the dee, don’t you know what I mean?

Oh the dance being over and all cleared away,
Johnny took his Nellie onto some bed of hay,
And Johnny said unto Nellie let me lie you on your back
And I’ll show you the game what they call “shoot the cat”
Yay, yay, fell the dee, don’t you know what I mean?

Oh six months being over and seven on the rail,
Nellie’s rosy cheeks they began to look pale,
Her apron strings they wouldn’t tie, and her stays they wouldn’t lap,
And they put it to the game what they call “shoot the cat.”
Yay, yay, fell the dee, don’t you know what I mean?

Oh eight months being over and nine coming on,
Nellie was the mother of a bouncing young son,
And says Mrs. unto Nellie let me name it for [your] sake                        
And we’ll call it “Shoot the cat coming home from the wake.”
Yay, yay, fell the dee, don’t you know what I mean?

This young bugger he grew up to be a man,
And coming round the corner with his rooster in his hand,
And every girl he'd meet he would give to him a shake,
Saying, "Daddy shoot [sic] the cat coming home from the wake."      
Yay, yay, fell the dee,


“Collected by Jesse Fudge from Robert Childs, Ramea [Newf.], Dec. 22, 1977....For a commercially released variant hear ‘Daddy Shot the Cat’ on [Con] O’Brien and [Ronnie] Power [“A Time in Bay Bulls,” St. Johns: Homespun Records, cassette HSR 003 47] (1990).”

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: and e
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 04:50 PM

Citation and link to the Lomax recording. The title of the song is "Shoot the Cat" the recording below also has "Root Hog or Die". Which seems to have eluded my "collection" until now.

Thrasher, E. & Lomax, A. (1938) Shoot the Cat; Root, Hog, or Die.
Round Lake, MI and Mackinac County, MI, September 8. [Audio]
Retrieved from the Library of Congress,
https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1939007_afs02321b/

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 02:03 PM

William Merriam Rouse, “The Rough-Neck,” Munsey’s Magazine (Oct., 1921):

“Brumley was built like a chopping-block, and they said his voice had turned milk sour in his own pantry. He swung over the rail of the Mary Ann and spoke out loud.
         “‘Shoot the cat!’ says he. ‘Shoot the cat comin' home from the wake!’
        “The words didn't mean anything particular, but when Hen Brumley advised folks to shoot the cat it was a sign that he intended to bust up all the civilization in his neighborhood within a reasonable time.”

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 01:45 PM

Sung by lumberjack Ed Thrasher (b. 1877) for Alan Lomax, Round Lake, Mich., 1938:

‘Twas Nellie the milkmaid so handsome and so gay,
So fond of a dance and going to a spree,
It’s one joke[?] to give and another for to take,
Says Nellie to the mistress, May I go to the wake?

Cho.:
With my hal fal the lay!

Says the mistress to Nellie, I’d have you to beware,
For, sure as you go, young Rogers he’ll be there.
He’ll take you in his arm and he’ll do to you some harm,
And you’ll be sorry comin’ home in the morn.

Nellie she got ready, was out upon the way,
Wishing all the time that Rogers he’d be there;
He’ll take me in his arm and he’ll shield me from all harm,
And I won’t be sorry comin’ home in the morn.

Early in the morning, before the break of day,
Rogers throwed Nellie down beside a stack of hay;
Says Rogers to Nellie, I’ll lay you here so deep,
And I’ll play to you the game that they call shoot-the-cat.

Three months passed and the fourth month a-come,
The rose in Nellie’s cheeks they both grew into one.
Her apron wouldn’t tie and her corset wouldn’t lap,
And they laid it to the game that they call shoot-the-cat.

Eighth month passed, and the ninth month a-come,
Borne unto Nellie a fine young son!
Says Mistress to Nellie, we’ll name him for your sake,
And we’ll call him Shoot-the-Cat-Comin’-Home-from-the-Wake!

This young devil grew up to be a man,
He run around town with his codger in his hand;
And every lady that he’d meet, at her he would shake it,
And he said his mama shot a cat comin’ home from the wake.



The tune bears a resemblance to that of “Felix the Soldier.”

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 12:30 PM

Aidan O'Hara, "I'll Live 'til I Die: The Delia Murphy Story" (Leitrim, 1997):

"[During WW2] Delia did two free concerts for Fr. Joe Flanagan in Woolwich, to help in raising funds for the church. While there, she sent a card to his mother in Co. Galway asking for the words of the song, 'The Wake in Kildare', also known as 'Coming Home from the Wake.' Delia recorded the song, and Fr. Joe’s brother, Ger, said ‘his mother would play the record but not when anyone was around because of the words, “And I slipped a kiss to Nellie coming home from the wake.” However his was the ‘sanitized’ version of the song. Delia’s unexpurgated version was not for ‘polite people’." . . .

"Delia also said she got a variant of the song, 'Coming home from the Wake,' or, 'The Wake in Kildare', from the Australian Prime Minister, Joseph Benedict (Ben) Chifley, whose people came from Ireland and who succeeded another Irish-Australian— John Curtin — as Prime Minister, in 1945."

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 15 Jan 23 - 03:32 PM

Hi and e
That's a very interesting collection (Canfield) particularly as it's of an earlier date 1926 as the usual ones. Most of the usual suspects are there. I wonder if John Mehlberg and the others who collect this bawdy material are aware of it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: and e
Date: 13 Jan 23 - 08:44 PM

From Rugby Songs Volume 2, LP. [n.d, ca 1965] By SportsDisc Records:

Roger of Kildare

Oh, mother, mother dear, may I go to the fair?
May I go to the fair with young Roger of Kildare
For I know he's kind and gentle and he'll love me for my sake.
And I know he will not harm me coming home from the lake.

Yes daughter, daughter dear, you may go to the fair.
You may go with Sir Roger, Sir Roger of Kildare
For I know he's kind and gentle and he'll love you for you sake.
And I know he will not harm you coming home from the lake.

So she went with Sir Roger, she went to the fair
She went with Sir Roger, Sir Roger of Kildare
And he stuffed her up with ice-cream and he stuff her up with cake
He stuffed it right up her coming home from the lake.

So all you pretty maidens beware oh beware
Beware of Sir Roger, Sir Roger of Kildare
For although he's kind and gentle and he'll love you for your sake
Just keep your legs together coming home from the lake.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: and e
Date: 13 Jan 23 - 04:43 PM

From pg 6 of the Hubert Canfield Collection. Dated ca 1926.

COMING HOME FROM THE WAKE

If you go to the wake, I'll tell you to beware,
If you go to the wake, young Roger will be there,
And he'll take you in his arms to shield you from all harms,
In the morning you'll be sorry coming from the wake.

The wake being over, and morning coming on,
Roger took Nellie through the fields of corn,
Said Roger to Nellie, let's sit down and have a chat,
And I'll show you the game that they call, Shoot the Cat.

They sat down on a rock as you may suppose,
And pretty soon Roger began to pull up Nellie's clothes;
Said Nellie to Roger, Now what are you at?
Said Roger to Nellie, Why I'm going to shoot your cat.

Six month passed by, and three more a-coming on,
Nellie brought forth a charming son,
We will name it, we will name it, we will name it for his sake,
We will name it Shoot-the-Kitten-Coming-Home-from-the-Wake.

And when this young bastard had grown to be a man,
He went down town with his cock in his hand,
And every lady he met he'd give it a little shake,
And then he'd shoot their kitten coming home from the wake.

See here: https://archive.org/details/1926canfieldcollection/page/n5/mode/2up

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Aug 20 - 10:27 AM

Since a sexual "shoot the cat" fits well here, why look further?

If the phrase was well known, it would have been instantly recognized.

If not, people whose minds worked like ours (i.e., just about anyone who appreciated the song) would presumably think it was a hilarious neologism.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 07 Aug 20 - 10:29 PM

cnd - I would think that wake as an annual festival is more likely for the song than the the death-celebration. If you fancied a dance I would have thought a festival more likely than a death-wake.

Partridge gives cat as verb, lateC18-20:low coll., to vomit. And gives Shoot The Cat as a related phrase. The euphemism (as guest at 03:39, 7 Aug 20 noted) is clear, though the vomiting meaning seems unlikely from the way it's phrased in the song.

Mick

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: cnd
Date: 07 Aug 20 - 08:15 PM

I had always understood a wake to be an event that takes place before a funeral that acts (primarily) as a social gathering. Especially in Celtic/Irish tradition (or so I read), the emphasis at wakes is on celebrating the life of the departed; dancing apparently takes place at wakes in some cultures, though never one I've been to. Given that context, I think that interpretation of wake makes sense.

As for "shoot the cat," as best as I can find it means to vomit profusely, especially because of liquor. Not exactly clear on the context in that situation, but if they've been celebrating a little too much at the wake, "shooting the cat" is definitely a possible side-effect.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 07 Aug 20 - 04:29 PM

Oxford shows that "wake" was the word applied since the Middle Ages to any of various periodic church or secular festivals.

These were sometimes specified as "country wakes."

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Mo the caller
Date: 07 Aug 20 - 02:50 PM

I'd never really thought what a 'wake' was in this context.
Seems to refer to a dance in some versions. Would that because you stay awake all night dancing?

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 20 - 03:39 AM

What on earth is shooting the cat? A cat is a pussy, enough said.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Jun 20 - 08:08 PM

Here's a surprising mention in the United States.

Philadelphia Journal of Homeopathy IV (1856), p. 329:

        Her apron grew short and her heart it did ache,
                And she thought upon the fall coming home from the wake
                She thought upon the fall coming home!

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Jun 20 - 08:01 PM

Thanks, Steve.

That runs a little more smoothly than the Thornton text.

The song's popularity for over 200 years is remarkable. But it is a good song.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Jun 20 - 06:22 PM

Jon
National Library of Scotland LC 2834 (13) should get you there.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Jun 20 - 02:25 PM

Can you post the text, Steve? Is it online?

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Jun 20 - 01:53 PM

Glasgow, 1802 is my earliest date.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 12 Jun 20 - 08:17 PM

Thanks, Carter.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: cnd
Date: 12 Jun 20 - 06:59 PM

I'd be willing to wager the reference was intentional, especially since I can't find any other references to a horse of that name racing. Frequently if papers had extra space to fill in their columns back then they would include a satirical and fake "exchange" or other semi-news report.

It's worth noting that, at the time, there was a New Orleans based Mardi Gras society by (nearly) the same name

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 12 Jun 20 - 02:12 PM

U.S. reference (very possible) or coincidence?:

The Lafayette [La.] Advertiser (Feb. 22, 1890), p. 9:

"This well bred trotting stallion, The Knight of Momus, will make his next season...at the stable of J. D. Breaux [etc.]....The Knight of Momus, sired by Seth Warner, Sr., and Nellie the Milkmaid, a Kentucky Messenger mare...."

"Momus" was the minor Greek deity of satire and satirical humor.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 05 Jun 18 - 10:31 AM

NELLY THE MILK MAID
        
        Young Nelly the Milk-Maid brisk buxom and gay,
        Of't times with young Roger she'd watonly play,                              [sic; sic]
        One evening of late at a dancing they met,
        And she asked her Dame leave to go the wake.
        She said she might go, but wo'd have her take care
        For Roger she knew was but a flatterer.
        Least you should have reson my counsel to take                     [sic
        And remember the day that you went to the wake.
        She put on her best clothes & away she did steer,
        She went to meet Roger, when she came he was there.
        They danc'd at the feast, & had good beer & cake,
        And the best of fine dainties found out at the wake.
        The pastime being over then we went away,
        They went till they came to some new cocks of hay,
        There he learned her a dance she did entreat,
        I'll remember the dance coming home form the Wake.
        Next morning her dame says to her Nell,
        What sort of pastime had you yesterday tell?
        She laught till her sides began for to shake,
        'Twas a delicate dance coming home from the wake.
        She kept it a secret till her strength it did fail,
        And her red Rosy cheeks began to look pale,
        She oftentimes sigh'd till her heart it did ach                            [sic
        When she thought of the dance coming home from the Wake.
        Her dame quickly spy'd it, and said to her Nell,
        I pray what's the matter, I think you do swell.
        The truth I cannot tell you if my life was at stake,        
        But it was done by the fall coming home from the Wake.
        Your credit is blasted, your glory is gone.
        You surely will have a young daughter or son;
        So Milk-Maids by Nelly pray warning take,
        And remember the dance coming home from the Wake.
        
                          Kenilworth, Printed by Thornton.


This is the broadside that the Ballad Index dates (above) to before 1830.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 05 Jun 18 - 08:44 AM

My father picked up a version of this whilst in the army during the second world war. He would refuse to sing some of the verses, claiming that he could not remember them - though I suspect that they were bawdy and he could not sing them to me (!) Most of the men that he was with in North Africa and Italy were from Scotland (Fife) and he said that he heard it from a Scot, and not from an Irishman (as I had first suspected).

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: meself
Date: 26 Mar 14 - 10:25 AM

Btw, I've always thought that 'Shoot the Cat' must be the name of a fiddle tune - does anyone know different? I just did a Google search and found a definition at TheFreeDictionary: "to empty one's stomach; to vomit." I somehow doubt that that's the meaning in the song ....

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 Mar 14 - 09:13 AM

Norfolk singer Harry Cox sang this
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: meself
Date: 25 Mar 14 - 10:12 PM

Corrections:

v.2, l. 3: ... keep HER from all harm

v.3, l. 1: ... brandy, rum and cake
       3: ... kept HER from all harm


Mudelf?

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: meself
Date: 25 Mar 14 - 10:08 PM

Here are the O.J. Abbot lyrics, from memory:


Pretty little Nellie, the milkmaid so gay,
Being fond of going on a ball or a spree;
Says the missus unto Nellie, Sure, I'd have you to beware,
When you go to the wake, Joe Rogers, he'll be there;
He will take you in his arms, and he'll keep you from all harm,
And perhaps you might be sorry coming home in the morn.
Mush-an-ah, fol the day.

Nellie she got ready and away she did steer,
Praying all the time that Joe Rogers, he'd be there;
That he'd take her in his arms and he'd keep from all harm,
Then she knew she wouldn't be sorry coming home in the morn.
Mush-an-ah, etc.

When she got there, she got brandy rum and cake,
She never got such usage before at a wake;
Rogers took her in his arms, and he kept from all harm,
Saying, I know you won't be sorry going home in the morn.
Mush-an-ah, etc.

Early in the morning, just at the break of day,
Rogers laid Nellie down, beside the stack of hay;
Says Rogers unto Nellie, Sure, I'll lay you down so neat,
Sure, I'll play you Shoot the Cat, coming home from the wake.
Mush-an-ah, etc.

Eight months being over, and nine coming on,
Nellie, she gave birth to a darling young son;
Says the missus unto Nellie, Sure, we'll christen him for your sake,
Sure, we'll call him Shoot the Cat Coming Home From the Wake.
Mush-ah-ah, etc.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: GUEST,matt
Date: 25 Mar 14 - 06:20 PM

The Carlton Showband (from the Toronto, ON area) did a version based on Delia Murphy's song called "The Wake at Kildare". It's pretty catchy and I wouldn't be surprised if this is the version you are referring to. Here's a link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzFroRQQ3RQ

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 11:01 PM

Cassanoa? How 'bout "Casanova"?

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 09:24 PM

What's a Cassanoa? And why would she "call the bastard Fagan"? Fagan must be an intruder from another version.

Edith Fowke recorded Abbott's song in 1957. He knew about eighty songs, most of them learned before 1900.

Subject: ADD Version: The Wake in Kildare
From: zozimus
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 06:34 PM

It's interesting to see that the only recorded version noted above is by O.J. Abbott. He recorded this in 1961, and I must agree it's a great version. However, Delia Murphy was in Ottawa in 1960, so the question is whether her version stirred his memory of his version, or whether he recomposed his version based on hers. While I really enjoy O.J, he does tend to re-arrange songs to a different air.
Meanwhile, to show this song is continually going thru the folk process,
I have added the lyrics I recently got from a person asking me to research the song. Many thanks to all you Mudcatters for your help.
The Wake in Kildare.


THE WAKE IN KILDARE
author unknown.

"Oh Mother, Dear Mother, There's a Wake in Kildare
And Roger the Dodger has promised to be there
He'll love me and caress me,he'll love me for my sake
Oh mother dear mother, can I go to the wake.

Oh daughter, dear daughter, be wise and beware
Beware of 'oul Roger the sod from Kildare
He'll love you and caress you and He'll love you for your sake
But keep your legs together coming home from the wake.

Now poor little Nellie, she was just seventeen
With white silken stockings and petticoats of green
He stuffed her up with chocolates, and he stuffed her up with cake
And he stuffed it up poor Nellie, coming home from the wake.

'Twas three months from the Kildare wake, her Cassanoa gone
That poor little Nellie wasn't feeling very strong
Her legs began to quiver, and her knees began to quake
It was all because of Roger coming home from the wake.

Nine months awaitin'. yes nine months have passed
And poor little Nellie has had her child at last
She'll love it and caress it it and she'll love it for it's sake
And she'll call the bastard Fagan coming home from the wake.

Subject: RE: Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 05:30 PM

Thanks, Joe. Compared with every other known version, Murphy's is clearly bowdlerized for genteel consumption.

Subject: Coming Home from the Wake/Nelly the Milkmaid
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 04:52 PM

Here's what the Traditional Ballad Index says about this song:

Nelly the Milkmaid

DESCRIPTION: Nelly, coming home from the wake (a country dance, not a funeral), is seduced, her ravisher, sometimes named Roger, assuring her he was merely "shooting at the cat." In some versions she gives birth to a son whom she names Shoot the Cat.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1885 (GreigDuncan7)
KEYWORDS: bawdy sex seduction childbirth
FOUND IN: Canada(Ont) Britain(England,Scotland(Aber)) US(So)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
GreigDuncan7 1481, "Coming Home from the Wake" (2 texts plus a single verse on p. 534, 1 tune)
Randolph-Legman I, pp. 169-172, "Nelly the Milkmaid" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Fowke/MacMillan 62, "Nellie Coming Home From the Wake" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fowke-Ontario 12, "Nellie Coming Home from the Wake" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1606
RECORDINGS:
O. J. Abbott, "Nellie Coming Home from the Wake" (on Abbott1)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Firth b.34(178), "The Milkmaid Coming from the Wake" ("Young Nelly the milkmaid right buxom and gay"), H. Such (London), 1863-1885; also Harding B 40(3), "Coming Home from the Wake"; Firth b.33(47), "Nelly the Milk Maid"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Mossie and His Meer" (tune, per GreigDuncan7)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Young Helen
NOTES: Bodleian broadside Firth b.33(47), printed by Thornton at Kenilworth, which Bodleian does not date, would seem by its font (non-final long "s," some arbitrary capitals but no italics), to be older than either of the dated broadsides [c.1770?-c.1830?]. - BS
Last updated in version 2.6
File: RL169

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Subject: ADD Versions: Nellie/Nelly the Milkmaid
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 04:33 PM

I found a somewhat different version at http://www.ralfweihrauch.de/8.html:

NELLY, THE MILKMAID

Nellie was a milkmaid bonny, brisk and gay,
She always took delight with young Roger for to play.
One day she decided some pleasure for to take
And asked her missus leave for to go to the wake.
Nellie toraloo, Nellie toraloo,
Fair lovely Nelly, to the wake she did go

"Nelly," said her missus, "I'd have you to take care
And of that young Roger I'd have you to beware.
So Nellie, you may go but this promise you must make,
Don't frolic with young Roger coming home from the wake."

So dressed in her best, young Nellie did repair
And as the expected young Roger he was there.
They danced and they sang, they had wine, beer and cake,
And many were the pleasures that they had at the wake.

The day being over, they homeward went their way,
Until they had come to the new cocks of hay.
And Roger kissed young Nell and her promise she did break,
She froliced with young Roger coming home from the wake.

When seven months were over and nine being come,
Young Nellie was the mother of a fine lovely son.
"I will call it," she said, "I will call it for his sake,
I'll call it young Roger coming home from the wake.


....and a recording: http://www.ralfweihrauch.de/resources/Nelly.mp3


---


And one more, from http://nostromo.pte.hu/english/rouse/simply/cd/storylyr.html#nellie



NELLIE THE MILKMAID

Nellie was a milkmaid, bonnie, brisk and gay
She always took delight with young Roger for to play
One day she decided some pleasure for to take
And asked her missus' leave for to go to the wake
Nellie tooraloo, Nellie tooraloo
Oh, sweet lovely Nellie to the wake she did go.

"Oh, Nellie," said her missus, "I'll have you to take care
And of that young rogue Roger I'd have you beware
So Nellie you may go but this promise you must make
Don't frolic with young Roger coming home from the wake"
Nellie tooraloo, Nellie tooraloo
Oh, sweet lovely Nellie to the wake she did go.

So dressed in her best young Nellie did repair
And as she expected, young Roger he was there
And they danced and they sang, they had beer, ale and cake
And many were the pleasures that they had at the wake.
Nellie etc.

The day being over, they homeward went their way
Until they'd come to the new cocks of hay
And Roger kissed young Nell and her promise she did break
She frolicked with young Roger coming home from the wake.
Nellie etc.

When seven months were over and nine being gone
Young Nellie was the mother of a fine lovely son
"I will call him," she said, "I will call him for his sake,
I'll call it Young-Roger-Coming-Home-From-The-Wake
Nellie etc.

Both of these versions are very similar to that posted by RTim above.

Subject: ADD: The Wake in Kildare
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 03:51 PM

Lighter requested this song in the Irish Songbook Indexing thread.

THE WAKE IN KILDARE
(D. Murphy)

There's a wake darling mother, there's a wake in Kildare,
And Roger, dear Roger, oh dear Roger he'll be there,
He is kind and he is true and great care of me he'll take,
And we'll all be home together comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
And we'll all be home together,
Comin' home from the Wake.

You may go darling Nellie, to the wake in Kildare
If Roger, dear Roger, if dear Roger will be there,
For I know that he is true and great care of you he'll take,
And you'll all be back together comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
And you'll all be back together,
Comin' home from the Wake.

The road was long and twisty, all the way to Kildare,
And Roger, dear Roger, oh dear Roger he was there,
He was kind and he was true and great care of her did take,
And he told her he did love her comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
And he told her that he loved her
Comin' home from the Wake.

The night was dark and windy all the way to Kildare,
But Roger, dear Roger, oh dear Roger, he was there,
He was kind and he was true and great care of her did take,
And he asked her if she'd marry comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
And he asked her if she'd marry,
Comin' home from the Wake.

As they sheltered from the weather comin' home from Kildare
And Roger, dear Roger, oh dear Roger, he was there,
He was kind and he was true and great care of her did take,
And he slipped a kiss to Nellie comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake
Comin' home from the Wake
And he slipped a kiss to Nellie
Comin' home from the Wake.

So they all came home together from the Wake in Kildare,
And Roger, dear Roger, oh dear Roger he was there.
He was kind and he was true and great care of her did take,
And they all came home together coming home from the Wake
Comin' home from the Wake,
Comin' home from the Wake,
And they all came home together,
Comin' home from the Wake.

Source: Walton's New Treasury of Irish Songs and Ballads (1968, Walton's Musical Instrument Galleries, Dublin)
pp. 144-145

Subject: Lyr Add: NELLY THE MILKMAID
From: RTim
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 06:35 PM

The version below was sung by Cheryl Jordan on Folk Songs from Dorset, on the Forest Tracks Label - LP recorded in 1974 or 5, but now re-issued on cd by Forest Tracks.

Tim Radford


NELLY THE MILKMAID
(Mrs Russell, Upway, Dorset 1907)

Nelly was a milkmaid bonny brisk & gay
Always took delight with young Roger for to play
One day she decided some pleasure for to take
And asked her misses leave for to go to the Wake
      Nelly-too-ra-loo x 2, Fairr lovely Nelly
      To the Wake she did go.

Oh Nelly said her mistress I'd have you take care
And of that young rogue Roger I'd have you beware
So Nelly you may go But this promise you must make
Do not frolic with young Roger coming home from the Wake.

So dressed all in her best, young Nelly did repair
And as she expected young Roger he was there
They danced & they sang, they beer ale & cake
And many were the pleasures that they had at the Wake.

The Wake being over they homeward when their way
Until that they came to some new cocks of hay
There young Roger kissed young Nelly and her promise she did break
She froliced with young Roger coming home from the Wake.

When eight months were over & nine coming on
Young Nelly was the mother of a fine lovely son
I will call it she said, I will call it for its sake
I will call it Young Roger coming home from the Wake.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Lighter
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 06:13 PM

Thanks, Guest. That looks very much like the version sung (later?) by Foster and Allen.

The first half of Murphy's tune is a lot like that of "Drink it Down."

Subject: Lyr Add: FAGAN'S WAKE (Sean McCarthy)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 03:04 PM

Irish Singer Delia Murphy recorded a version she called "The Wake in Kildare" in 1950 and may have influenced a few versions. The sheet music can be purchased from musicnotes.com which claims "Words and Music Delia Murphy" for $5.95. She would have been fairly popular at that time.

Sean McCarthy from Kerry updated the song in the late sixties,when the use of contraceptives was causing heated debates in Ireland.
He recorded it under the title "Fagan's Wake".

FAGAN'S WAKE

Oh! daughter, dearest daughter there's a wake in Kildare
And the lodger, the lodger he's sure to be there
You know he's hansome and you know he's tall and straight,
Ah! but keep your legs together comimg home from the wake.

Oh! Mother, dearest mother what an awful thing to say,
Sure I'll keep away from Fagan until my wedding day
He can kiss me and caress me, he can love me for my sake,
But I'll keep my legs together coming home from the wake

When Mary reached the waking house, it was young and gay she felt,
Fagan sat her down by the fire and drank the dead man's health
Oh! gra mo chroi 'twas sad to see the poor man on the bed
A mean old craiter when alive, he's a fine man now he's dead.

And at 4 o clock next morning, walking down the boreen,
She kept admiring Fagan, the finest she'd ever seen
Temptation proved too much for her. she let him have his way,
As Fagan says the best of friends get parted every day.

Nine months have been and gone since Fagan rang the bell,
The anxious weeks have been like years for fear of any swell
Young and foolish though they were of them I won't speak ill
There was no cause to fret you see 'cause Mary takes the Pill.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 10:51 AM

Many thanks, Lighter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Lighter
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 10:25 AM

M:

Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=2882617

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:15 AM

In fact, I have tracked down that ref on the Handsome Sandy Paton thread. Thanks for the reminder, Lighter.

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:09 AM

In fact, Sandy's 1959 Elektra album #148, The Many Sides of Sandy Paton, track 12 ~~ title Coming Home From The Wake.

I have never actually seen a copy of this. Has anyone got it?   Did he acknowledge me as source on it, anyone know? Just curious.

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:03 AM

At my mother's restaurant, Lighter ~ Chez Cleo, Kensington, where I used to sing Caviare & Foggy Dew, &c, & a semi-impromptu customer-participatory cabaret would often happen ~ Ustinov's Love Of 3 Colonels was running in London & one night I recall none other than Theo Bikel taking the guitar off the wall & singing! This about mid-50s.

The version of Home From Wake that one customer sang & taught me was called Roger Of Kildare. As you say, I then passed it on to Sandy at the Troubadour Old Brompton Road, 1958, & I think he put it on, was it his Many Faces album?.

Can you give a link to the previous post of mine re this that you ref above, please?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Lighter
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 09:25 PM

On another thread, MtheGM thinks that Sandy Paton learned his version, which Sandy then recorded in 1958/59.

M - where and when did you learn it?

It had rarely been in print back then.

It reminds me of Harry Cox's version, but I haven't heard that in years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Anglo
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 03:16 AM

I remember John Pearse singing the Gardiner version, but I don't remember what the recording was. Sorry. (But I don't think this was the song originally called for at the top of the thread. Ah well, that's mudcat.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Lighter
Date: 14 Jun 09 - 08:56 AM

Tom Kines also recorded Abbott's version for Folkways in 1962 on "An Irishman in North Americay."

But I like Gardiner's better.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: 12-stringer
Date: 14 Jun 09 - 12:48 AM

See also the c1960 Folkways album "Irish & British Songs from the Ottawa Valley," where the majestic Ontario traditional singer O J Abbott performs a great version of the song, much revised from the broadside text.