Lyr Add: The Tunbridge Doctors

Subject: Lyr Add: The Tunbridge Doctors
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 07:31 PM

Yet another spin-off from the search for tunes missing from DT files. This song appears in the DT as  THE FOUR ABLE PHYSICANS,  with no source named earlier than an Oscar Brand record. Presumably Brand got it from D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy, which is the first place where it was published wih a tune. Since the DT transcription contains some apparent mis-hearings and since Brand has omitted several verses, here is the whole thing. I've retained spelling and capitalisation, but haven't bothered with italics.


THE TUNBRIDGE DOCTORS

You Maidens and Wives,
And young Widows rejoyce,
Declare your thanksgiving,
With Heart and with Voice;
Since Waters were Waters
I dare boldly say,
There ne'er was such cause
Of a Thanksgiving day.

For from London-Town
There's lately come down,
Four Able Physicians
That never wore Gown:
Their Physick is pleasant,
Their Dose it is large,
And you may be Cur'd
Without Danger or Charge.

No Bolus nor Vomit,
No Potion nor Pill,
Which sometimes do Cure,
But oftner do Kill,
Your Taste nor your Stomach
Need ever displease,
If you'll be advised
But by one of these.

For they've a new Drug
Which is call'd the close Hug,
Which will mend your Complexion,
And make you look smug,
A Sovereign Balsom
Which once well apply'd,
Tho' griev'd at the Heart
The Patient ne'er Dy'd.

In the Morning you need not
Be robb'd of your rest,
For in your warm Beds
Your Physick works best:
And tho' in the taking
Some stirring's requir'd,
The motion's so pleasant
You cannot be tir'd.

For on your Backs you must lie,
With your Body rais'd high,
And one of these doctors
Must always be by,
Who still will be ready
To cover you warm,
For if you take cold
All physick doth harm.

Before they do venture
To give their direction,
They always consider
Their Patients complexion;
If she have a moist Palm
Or a Red Head of Hair,
She requires more Physick
Than one man can spare.

If she have a long Nose,
The Doctor scarce knows
How many good handfuls
Must go to her Dose:
You Ladies that have
Such ill symptoms as these,
In reason and conscience
Should pay double fees.

But that we may give
To these Doctors due praise;
Who to all sorts of people
Their favours conveys:
On the ugly for pity sake
Skill shall be shown,
And as for the handsom,
They're Cur'd for their own.

On the Silver or Gold
They never lay hold,
For what comes so freely
They scorn should be sold:
Then joyn with the Doctors,
And heartily pray,
Their power of Healing
May never decay.

From Thomas D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy, vol. IV p. 162-3, edition of 1719-20 (1876 reprint, reprinted in facsimile 1959). The text previously appeared in The New Academy of Compliments, 1669 (unique copy in Folger Shakespeare Library), and Wit and Drollery, 1682 (information from Bruce Olson).

The tune given in Pills is a version of Packington's Pound. The second half of each verse is evidently to be repeated. In the following transcription, the half-note beginning the eleventh bar has been split into two quarter-notes in order to accommodate the lyric.

X:1
T:The Tunbridge Doctors
T:The Four Able Physicians
T:Packington's Pound
B:Pills to Purge Melancholy vol.IV p.162-3, edition of 1719-20.
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
M:3/4
K:C
E2|A2^G2A2|B2c2d2|c2B2A2|B4
w:You Maid-ens and Wives, And young Wi-dows re-joyce,
B2|c2B2c2|d2d2e2|B3A^G2|A4
w:De-clare your thanks-giving, With Heart and with Voice;
e2|e2g2^f2|e2e2e2|e2g2^f2|e4
w:Since Wa-ters were Wa-ters I dare bold-ly say,
e2|e2g2^f2|e2^f2g2|a3g^f2|e4
w:There ne'er was such cause Of a Thanks-giv-ing day.
g2|e3dc2|d2B2G2|c2B2A2|B4
w:Since Wa-ters were Wa-ters I dare bold-ly say,
B2|c2B2c2|d2d2e2|B2 z A^G2|A6|]
w:There ne'er was such cause Of a Thanks-giv-ing day.

---

Also see Folk Songs appropriate for medcical students

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Tunbridge Doctors
From: maldenny
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 04:38 AM

The same version of the "Tunbridge Doctors of Physic" is on a 1988 LP by Tarleton's Jig. "A Fit of Mirth for a Groat" - Nun's Meadow Productions NMP 1522.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Tunbridge Doctors
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 07:40 AM

I assume that "Tunbridge" refers to Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The spa was known of in the 17th century although it's main popularity (and most of it's fine architecture) tend to date from the 18th.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Tunbridge Doctors
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 09:06 AM

The song had first appeared in 'The New Accademy of Compliments', 1669, without music or tune direction.