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Wiltshire Community History

Folk Song Information

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Book Title

Author

Date

Notes

Song Title	Jack and his brooms
Roud No.	379
Collected From	Sessions, Mary Mrs.
Location	East Hendred
County	Berkshire
Collected By	Williams, Alfred
Alternative Title
Tune
Date
Source Primary	WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 1 - Indexes, lecture notes, Berkshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Bk 10
Source Secondary	Unpublished
Recording

Song Lyrics
Verse 1 There was an old man and he lived in the west, And his trade it was selling a brooms; He had an idle boy Jack for his son, And he lay in bed till 'twas noon, 'twas noon, And lay in bed till 'twas noon. Verse 2 The old man he rose in a passion he goes, And swore he would fire the broom If he didn't fit up and go to the woods, And cut him a bundle of broom, green broom And cut him a bundle of broom. Verse 3 Then Jack he arose and pulled on his clothes And away to the woods he did [?] Saying I am a poor lad and my pastime is bad So I am come here to cut brooms, green broom So I am come here to cut green brooms. Verse 4 Jack cut them and went along the highway Till he came to a place far from home And the people [?] what Jack had to sell Till his speech it was crying a brooms, green broom Till his speech was crying a brooms. Verse 5 A Lady looked out of her window so high And called for her servant to come You go down to the gate and let the youth in For I fancy both him and his brooms, green brooms, I fancy both him and his brooms. Verse 6 A lady I am and a Lady by name And all that I have is my own If you marry me your own it shall be And no longer go selling a brooms green brooms And no longer go selling a broom. Verse 7 Jack gave his consent To the parson they went And he married them both in broom Here's victuals and drink boys what do you think I got it by selling a broom, green broom, I got it by selling a broom.

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Notes
The text is quite hard to decipher in places and some words cannot be read: Verse 3 Line 2 word 8 Verse 4 Line 3 word 4 Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2007.