"rough music"

[winterbadger]

http://www.berksfhs.org.uk/journal/Jun2003/RoughMusicOrMoralityInTheCommunity.htm

For those whole think that wife-beating was normal and accepted behavior in earlier times...

Comments

[wolfette]

Folk music can be very enlightening as to historical incidents and attitudes. How about the words of the original "John Anderson, my jo" - the version not as cleaned up by Rabbie Burns? a much more feminist song!


John Anderson, my jo, John – I wonder what ye mean?
Tae lie sae lang in the morning, and sit sae late at e’en?
Ye’ll bleer all yer een John, and why dae ye dae so?
Come sooner tae yer bed at nicht, John Anderson, my jo!

John Anderson, my jo, John, when first that ye began
Ye had as guid a tail tree as ony ither man.
But noo it’s waxen wan, John, an’ wrinkles tae and fro
Ah git twae gae-ups for ane gae-doon, John Anderson, my jo

Ah’m backit like the salmon, Ah’m breastit like the swan
Mah wame it is a doon-cod, mah middle ye mae span
Frae mah top-knot tae mah taes, John, I’m like the new faw’n snow
An’ it’s a’ fer yer convenience, John Anderson, my jo!

O, it is a fine thing, tae keep oot o’er the dyke
But it is a meikle finer thing, tae see yer hurdies fyke
Tae see yer hurdies fyke, John, an’ hit a risin’ blow
Tis then I like yer chanter-pipe, John Anderson, my jo

When ye come on afore, John, see that ye dae yer best
When ye begin tae haud me, see that ye grip me fast
See that ye grip me fast, John, until that I cry “oh!”
Yer back shall crack or I dae that, John Anderson, my jo!

John Anderson, my jo, John, ye’re welcome where ye please
Tis either in the warm bed, or else aboon the claes
Or ye shall hae the horns, John, upon yer heid tae grow
For that’s the cuckold’s mallison, John Anderson, my jo.

[rethought.livejournal.com]

Interesting 3rd version here.