“Roger the Ploughboy”

Description

Roger meets milk-maid Sue. He would take her to the fair to buy hair ribbons. She eventually agrees. In a grove "he gave her a ribbon to roll up her hair." She said it could not be bought at a fair. They marry. "Roger continues to roll up her hair"

Notes

The description is based on broadside Bodleian Harding B 11(2578).

See recording Paddy Tunney, "The Lark in the Morning" (on Voice05). The first verse is a fragment of "The Lark in the Morning"; the second is a fragment of "Roger the Ploughboy." - BS

Is it just me, or does this sound like someone is trying to stick a happy ending on "Oh, Dear, What Can the Matter Be?"

Broadsides

  • Bodleian, Harding B 11(2578), "Roger the Ploughboy" ("Young Roger the ploughboy was a crafty young swain"), H., Such (London), 1863-1885; also Firth b.34(258)[some words are illegible], "Roger the Ploughboy"; 2806 c.16(113), "Roger the Plow Boy"

Recordings

  • Paddy Tunney, "The Lark in the Morning" (on Voice05) [a mixture of "The Lark in the Morning" and "Roger the Ploughboy"]

References

  1. Roud #17772
  2. BI, BdRotPlo

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: before 1886 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(2578))
Keywords: love marriage seduction