“Will the Weaver”

Description

The newly married man regrets his hasty marriage. He is told that his wife is seeing Will the Weaver. He surprises them at his home. Will hides up the chimney. The husband smokes him out, beats him, and sends him away

Notes

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. "The Boatsman and the Chest" [Laws Q8] (plot) and references there

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Harding B 25(2078), "Will the Weaver" [almost entirely illegible], J. Evans (London), 1780-1812; also Harding B 28(151), "Will, the Weaver," W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; Harding B 11(4247), "Will, the Weaver"; Firth c.18(255), Firth c.18(254), "Will the Weaver"

Recordings

• Bill Carlisle, "Jumpin' and Jerkin' Blues" (Vocalion 02984, 1935; Conqueror 8789, 1937; Romeo 70264, prob. 1937, and issues on Banner, Melotone, Oriole and Perfect)
• Dave McCarn, "Everyday Dirt" (Victor V-40274, 1930)
• New Lost City Ramblers, "Everyday Dirt" (on NLCR02)
• Charlie Parker & Mack Woolbright, "Will the Weaver" (Columbia 15694-D, 1931; rec. 1927; on ConstSor1)
• Mike Seeger, "Will the Weaver" (on MSeeger01)
• Doc Watson, "Every Day Dirt" (on Watson01)

References

1. Laws Q9, "Will the Weaver"
2. McNeil-SFB2, pp. 64-65, "Willy Weaver" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Warner 47, "Bill the Weaver" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. BrownII 199, "Father, Father, I Am Married" (1 fragment, so short that it could be a form of "Devilish Mary" but seeming by its form to belong here )
5. Chappell-FSRA 53, "Will the Weaver" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 237-238, "Will the Weaver" ("Will de Weaver") (1 text; tune on p. 418)
7. Brewster 98, "Will the Weaver" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. FSCatskills 140, "Will, the Weaver" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. SharpAp 154, "Will the Weaver" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
10. Shellans, p. 22, "Johnny and Old Mr. Henly" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. Mackenzie 133, "Bill the Weaver" (1 text)
12. Cohen/Seeger/Wood, pp. 152-154, "Everyday Dirt" (1 text, 1 tune, rewritten by Dave McCarn)
13. Chase, pp. 184-185, "Will the Weaver" (1 text, 1 tune)
14. SHenry H682, p. 505, "Will the Weaver" (1 text, 1 tune)
15. Darling-NAS, pp. 146-147, "Will the Weaver" (1 text)
16. Silber-FSWB, p. 170, "Everyday Dirt" (1 text)
17. DT 345, WILLWVR1* WILLWVR2* WILLWVR3 WILLWVR4
18. Roud #432
19. BI, LQ09