“The Boatsman and the Chest”

Description

The boatsman's wife is being visited by the tailor when he comes home unexpectedly. The tailor hides in a chest. Knowing its contents, the husband deliberately takes the chest back to his ship. He tells the tailor he abducted him to keep him from his wife

Notes

In one version, the husband ships the chest (and the tailor) off to China. - PJS

This and similar songs are sometimes traced back to a story in Boccaccio (seventh day, second story: Gianella, Peronella, and her husband). But the story is really one of the basic themes of folktale, and doubtless predates Boccaccio as well as these songs. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Will the Weaver" [Laws Q9] (plot)
• cf. "The Major and the Weaver" [Laws Q10] (plot)
• cf. "The Dog in the Closet (The Old Dyer)" [Laws Q11] (plot)
• cf. "The Trooper and the Tailor" (plot)
• cf. "The Little Cobbler" (plot)
• cf. "The Greasy Cook (Butter and Cheese and All, The Cook's Choice)" (plot)
• cf. "Murphy in the Cupboard" (plot)

References

1. Laws Q8, "The Boatsman and the Chest"
2. Eddy 46, "Jolly Boatman" (1 text)
3. JHCoxIIA, #23, pp. 91-93, "The Wealthy Merchant" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. FSCatskills 138, "The Jolly Boatswain" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Greenleaf/Mansfield 53, "The Boatswain and the Tailor" (1 text)
6. Peacock, pp. 306-311, "The Old Bo's'n" (3 texts, 3 tunes)
7. SHenry H604, pp. 505-506, "The Tailor in the Tea [Sea] Chest" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. Chappell-FSRA 52, "The Boatswain and the Chest" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. SharpAp 52, "The Boatsman and the Chest" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
10. Gilbert, pp. 26-27, "The Sailor and the Tailor" (1 text)
11. JHJohnson, pp.71-73, "The Boatswain and the Tailor" (1 text)
12. DT 346, BOATTAIL TRPRTAIL*
13. Roud #570
14. BI, LQ08