Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

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

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REIGN OF CHARLES II. TO WILLIAM III.                               603
I gam'd and drank, and play'd the fool,
And a thousand mad frolicks more ; I rov'd and rang'd, despis'd all rule,
But I never was married before. This was the worst plague could ensue,
I'm mew'd in a smoky house ; I used to tope a bottle or two,
But now 'tis small beer with my spouse!
My darling freedom crown'd my joys,
And I never was vex'd in my way ; If now I cross her will, her voice
Makes my lodging too hot for my stay. Like a Fox that is hamper'd, in vain
I fret out my heart and soul, Walk to and fro the length of my chain,
Then am forc'd to creep into my hole.
MAD MOLL.
There are two versions of this tune in The Dancing Master. The first appeared, under the name of Mad Moll, in Part II. of the edition of 1698 ; the second, under that of The Virgin Queen, in the edition of 1703. Both were retained in all editions issued after these dates.
Dean Swift's song, " Oh! my Kitten, my Kitten!" was written to the second version, which Allan Ramsay (in printing the song in the fourth volume of the Tea Table Miscellany, 1740), calls Yellow Stockings.