Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

	120	ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	There was a bonny blade, Had married a country maid, And safely conducted her home, home, home; She was neat in every part, And she pleas'd him to the heart, ' But ah! and alas! she was dumb, dumb, dumb. She was bright as the day, And brisk as the May, And as round and as plump as a plum, But still the silly swain Could do nothing but complain Because that his wife she was dumb. She could brew, she could bake, She could sew, and she could make, She could sweep the house with a broom; She could wash, and she could wring, And do any kind of thing, But ah ! and alas ! she was dumb. To the doctor then he went, For to give himself content, And to cure his wife of the mum : " Oh! it is the easiest part That belongs unto my art For to make a woman speak that is dumb."		To the doctor he did her bring, And he cut her chattering string, And at liberty he set her tongue; Her tongue began to walk, And she began to talk As though she never had been dumb. Her faculty she tries, And she fills the house with noise, And she rattled in his ears like a drum; She bred a deal of strife, Made him weary of his life— He'd give any thing again she was dumb. To the doctor then he goes, And thus he vents his woes : ' Oh! doctor, you've me undone; For my wife she's turn'd a scold, And her tongue can never hold, I'd give any kind of thing she was dumb." " -When I did undertake To make thy wife to speak, It was a thing easily done, But 'tis past the art of man,-Let him do whate'er he can, For to make a scolding wife hold her tongue."
	From the last line of the verses of this song, the tune also became known as " Alack! and alas! she was dumb," or "Dumb, dumb, dumb."