“The Wearing of the Britches”
Description
Singer marries a girl for money, not love; they struggle over who will "wear the britches." She spends all he makes, even though he beats her black and blue. Eventually she dies; "now at last her tongue lies still/And she must wear the wooden britches."
Long description
Singer marries a girl for money, not love, and they struggle over who will "wear the britches." Although she's small, and he can beat her in a fight, she swears she'll wear them; he's a tailor but she spends all he makes, even though he beats her black and blue. When he goes drinking she comes after him, "cursing like a dragon"; she's thrown the teapot at him, putting him on crutches. Eventually she dies; "now at last her tongue lies still/And she must wear the wooden britches." He warns young men to marry for love and work for riches
Notes
This is so close to "Devilish Mary" I was tempted to lump them. But this song's events are different; in this one she dies, in "Devilish Mary" he leaves her. So I split them, but they're close cousins. - PJS
The temptation to lump is indeed strong. Curiously, Kennedy never mentions "Devilish Mary," and Laws never mentions this. I guess that makes them separate. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Struggle for the Breeches" [Broadside NLScotland, L.C.Fol.70(45a), "Struggle for the Breeches," unknown, c. 1890; Murray, Mu23-y4:026, Struggle for the Breeches," unknown, 19C] (subject)
- cf. "Devilish Mary" [Laws Q4] (subject)
- cf. "There's Bound to be a Row" (theme)
Broadsides
- Bodleian, Harding B 28(157), "The Breeches" ("Come all ye young men wherever you be"), W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also Harding B 25(275), "The Breeches"
Recordings
- Joe Tunney, "The Tailor by Trade" (on FSB3)
- Paddy Tunney, "The Wearing of the Breeches" (on IRPTunney01); "The Wearing of the Britches" (on Voice15)
References
- Kennedy 215, "The Wearing of the Britches" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #1588
- BI, K215