“Firelock Stile”
Description
A woman is crossing Firelock Stile, she catches her clothes on a nail. A man is dazzled by the sight; she says if he'd like to play, the price is 20 guineas. Six weeks later "she gave him some fire to keep him from cold." He curses her and warns others.
Long description
As a woman is crossing Firelock Stile, a nail catches hold of her clothes, and various private parts are exposed. A young man is dazzled at the sight; she tells him she's amazed at his gaze, but if he'd like to play, the price is 20 guineas. He would, he pays, they do, and six weeks later "she gave him some fire to keep him from cold." The young man curses her and warns others. Chorus: "On her rump-a-tump tooral tooral laddie-dy/Rump-a-tump tooral tooral day"
Notes
A stile was a wooden "stepping-over" place used for crossing fences; per Kennedy, it afforded prostitutes a chance to display their charms without being arrested for indecent exposure. "Firelock," of course, refers to the effect of the clap the young man catches. - PJS
Cross references
- cf. "The Fire Ship" (plot) and references there
Recordings
- Harry Cox, "Firelock Stile" (on FSB2CD)
References
- Kennedy 173, "Firelock Stile" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, FIRELOK
- Roud #1780
- BI, K173