Brother workers, cease your labour
Lay your files and hammers by
Listen while a brother neighbour
Sings a cutler’s destiny -
How upon a good Saint Monday,
Sitting by the smithy fire,
Telling what’s been done on Sunday
And in cheerful mirth conspire
Soon we hear the trap-door rise up,
On the ladder stands his wife:
“Damn thee, Jack, I’ll dust thy eyes up,
Thou leads a plaguey drunken life:
Here thou sits instead of working,
With thy pitcher on thy knee
Curse thee, thou’d be always shirking,
I would slave myself for thee.”
“Ah! Thou great, fat, idle devil,
Now I see thy goings on;
Here thou sits all day to revel,
Never a scrap of work you’ve done;
If thou canst but get thy tankard
Thou neither thinks o’ wark nor me:
‘Od burn thee, I was sorely hampered
When I married a rogue like thee.”
Now she speaks with motion quicker
Than his boring stick at a Friday’s pace;
She throws the generous sparkling liquor
With all her fury in his face
His eyes, his apron, and his breeches,
His shirt sleeves are drenched with ale.
Something bad his dear bewitches,
Again to vex us with her tale.
“Prithee, look here, all the forenoon
Thou has wasted with thy idle ways;
When do you mean to get your sours done?
Master he wants them in today;
You know I hate to broil and quarrel,
But I’ve neither soap nor tea;
Od burn thee, Jack, forsake thy barrel,
Or never more I’ll lie with thee.”
Still upon that good Saint Monday,
Sitting by the smithy fire,
Telling what’s been done on Sunday
And in cheerful mirth conspire
Now once more on joys he’s thinking,
Since hard scolding’s tired his wife;
The course is clear, he’ll have some drink in,
And toast a jovial cutler’s life.
George Sansome is a vibrant trad folk singer and guitarist from Worcester, UK. His relaxed stage presence and engaging delivery make for a captivating and exciting performance.
George also plays with trad English trio Granny's Attic.
Because I couldn't decide what my favourite track was. It's a beautiful album and every track could be my favourite. However, I am a soppy git so I chose stowaway. Thank you Jon and keep up the good work. amediamonkey
Darling Charms - Would've thought NK would have learned her lesson after the Port 'n' Brandy 😘 xx
This whole EP is bangin' btw. Beautiful work xx Gill Loomes-Quinn
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