“In Good Old Colony Times”

Description

Three rogues (king's sons? miller, weaver, and tailor?) "fell into mishaps / because they could not sing." Eventually they turn to robbery. "The miller drowned in his dam / the weaver was hung in his yarn, and the devil clapped his claws on the tailor..."

Notes

Botkin has a report that this was quoted by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to the Reichstag in 1888. Allegedly Bismarck learned it from a friend in 1832. I do not know how this could be verified, however.

One has to suspect that this has had a complex history of moving between the broadside press and the folk; how else can one explain its tendency to take on new settings, from King Arthur's court (very common in British settings) to the American colonies to "Lynne" (King's Lynn?).

The song is quoted by Thomas Hardy in _Under the Greenwood Tree_ (a single "King Arthur" stanza in chapter 2, "Honey-taking, and Afterwards," of Part IV, "Autumn"). - RBW

Broadside Bodleian Johnson Ballads fol. 84: "A much admired song sung by Mr Chas Johnston, & proper to be sung at all Musical Clubs." In this version "Three Sons of Whores were turn'd out of doors ...." - BS

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Johnson Ballads fol. 84, "The Miller, Weaver, and Little Tailor ("In good king Arthur's days")," Laurie and Whittle (London), 1804
• LOCSheet, sm1878 07980, "Old Colony Times," John Church & Co. (Cincinnati), 1878 (tune)
• LOCSinging, as104730, "Good Old Colony Times," L. Deming (Boston), n.d.

Recordings

• George Maynard, "Three Sons of Rogues" (on Maynard1, Voice07)

References

1. Belden, pp. 268-269, "The Three Rogues" (3 texts)
2. Randolph 112, "In the Good Old Colony Times" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Eddy 80, "The Three Rogues" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
4. FSCatskills 116, "The Three Rogues" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Sharp-100E 80, "The Three Sons" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Kennedy 307, "Three Scamping Rogues" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. BrownII 188, "The Three Rogues" (1 text plus 2 excerpts and mention of 1 more)
8. Chappell-FSRA 108, "The Old King and His Three Sons" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Lomax-FSNA 1, "In Good Old Colony Times" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. LPound-ABS, 116, pp. 234-235, "In Good Old Colony Times" (1 text)
11. JHCox 166, "The Three Rogues" (1 text plus mention of 1 more)
12. Flanders/Brown, p. 103, "The Farmer's Three Sons" (2 fragments)
13. Linscott, pp. 213-214, "In Good Old Colony Times" (1 text, 1 tune)
14. Arnett, p. 7, "Old Colony Times" (1 text, 1 tune)
15. Botkin-NEFolklr, p. 531, "Old Colony Times" (1 text, 1 tune)
16. DT, ROGUES3* ROGUES2* (ROGUES32)
17. Roud #130
18. BI, R112