“The Monkey Turned Barber”

Description

Pat enters the barber's and asks for a shave. A monkey in clothes winks and sets to work. Pat screams with pain; the monkey disappears. The barber enters. Pat accuses his "father" of having cut him. Finally the truth comes out

Notes

There is a broadside, NLScotland, F.3.a.13(5), "The Monkey Barber," unknown (Edinburgh), 1825, which tells this story in prose, with rather more substantial detail. It's not clear whether it is the source of this song, or a retelling; I suspect the latter.

References

1. Laws Q14, "The Monkey Turned Barber"
2. Belden, pp. 249-251, "The Monkey Turned Barber" (3 texts, but B2 is "The Love-of-God Shave")
3. Beck 82, "Irishman's Lumber Song" (1 text)
4. Creighton/Senior, pp. 239-240, "Wild Irishman" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. DT 525, MONKBARB MANKBAR2
6. Roud #918
7. BI, LQ14