“Washing Day”
Description
"The sky with clouds was overcast, The rain began to fall, My wife she whipped the children And raised a pretty squall... Oh, the deil a bit o' comfort's here upon a washing day." The singer describes how his good wife turns evil on washing day
Supplemental text
Washing Day
Partial text(s)
*** A ***
From Eloise Hubbard Linscott, Folk Songs of Old New England, pp. 296-299.
Apparently from the singing of Elizabeth Wheeler Hubbard of Taunton,
Massachusetts.
The sky with clouds was overcast,
The rain began to fall,
My wife she whipped the children
And raised a pretty squall.
She bade me with a frowning look
To get out of her way.
Oh the deuce a bit of comfort's here
Upon a washing day!
Chorus
For it's thump! thump! scrub! scrub! scold! scold away!
The de'il a bit of comfort's here
Upon a washing day.
(4 additional stanzas)
Notes
The similarities between the handful of truly-traditional texts of this song (Ord and Linscott) is such that I have to suspect broadside influence -- and, indeed, most of the texts listed by Roud are broadside or songster versions. - RBW
References
- Linscott, pp. 296-299, "Washing Day" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Ord, p. 153, "The Washing-Day" (1 text)
- Logan, pp. 381-382, "The Washing Day" (1 text)
- ST Lins296 (Partial)
- Roud #3747
- BI, Lins296