“The Farm Servant (Rap-Tap-Tap)”
Description
The farm servant, is told to mind the business "as servants always do." He minds the business of his master's wife, who says he manages his equipment far better than the master. The master rewards the servant for minding the business so well
Long description
The singer, a farm servant, is told by his master to mind the business "as servants always do." He does, including the business of his master's wife, who says the servant manages his equipment far better than the master. When the master returns, he rewards the servant for minding the business so well; the servant remarks that had the master known what he was up to, he would not have been rewarded
Notes
Lloyd notes that this song had not shown up in print as of the date of recording. - PJS
This was more a matter of suppression than rarity, however; Kennedy noted versions found in the Gardiner MS from 1905 and the Hammond MS in 1906. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Chandler's Wife" (theme)
- cf. "The Coachman's Whip" (theme)
- cf. "The Jolly Barber Lad" (theme)
Recordings
- Bob Hart, "The Farmer's Servant" (on Voice05)
- A. L. Lloyd, "The Farm Servant" (on Lloyd1)
References
- Kennedy 211, "Rap-tap-tap" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, RAPTPTAP*
- Roud #792
- BI, DTraptap