Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

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

Home Main Menu Singing & Playing Order & Order Info Support Search Easter Hymns



Share page  Visit Us On FB

Previous Contents Next
ILLUSTRATING SHAKESPEARE.                                         235
volume), "printed at London for I. W." (either I. Wright or I. White, who were both ballad printers of the reigns of James I. and Charles I.)
In Choice Drollery, 1656, p. 31, is another, which would require a different tune, commencing— " A story strange I will you tell,
But not ao strange as true, Of a woman that dane'd upon the rope,
And so did her husband too. With a dildo, dildo, dildo, With a dildo, dildo dee." In the Pepys Collection of Ballads, i. 224, is one by Robert Guy, printed for H. Gosson, and with the following title:—
" The Merry Forester. Young men and maids, in country or in city I crave your aids with me to tune this ditty; Both new and true it is, no harm in this is, But is composed of the word call'd kisses ; Yet meant by none, abroad loves to be gadding: It goes unto the tune of With a fadding." The first line is " Of late I chane'd to be where I," &c.
Another song, which has the burden " with a fading," will be found in Shirley's Bird in a Gage, act iv., sc. 1 (1633). A third in Sportive Wit, &c, 1656, p. 58. The last is also printed in Pills to purge Melancholy, ii. 99 (1707), with the tune, of which there are other copies in the same work.
There are also ballads to it, under the name of An Orange, and With a Pudding. See Roxburghe Collection, ii. 16; Pills to purge Melanclwly, i. 90 (1707), &c.
The Fading is the name of an Irish dance, but With a fading (or /adding) seems to be used as a nonsense-burden, like Berry down, Sey nonny, nonny no, &c.