Singing the bell-bottom trousers, coat of navy blue

voiceCollected by Mary Celestia Parler Transcribed by Nathaniel Lucy Sung by Kay Thresto Fayettville, Arkansas September 14, 1959 Reel 316, Item 8 [This recording can be found in better quality under Reel 325, Item 1] Down in Drury Lane Once I was a maiden, I lived in Drury Lane My mistress she mistreated me, my master did the same Along came a sailor happy as he could be He is the author of my misery Chorus: Singing the bell-bottom trousers, coat of navy blue Climbing up the rigging like his daddy used to do He asked me for a kerchief to rest his weary head He asked me for a candle to light his way to bed And I, foolish lady, thinking it no harm Got in the bed just to keep the sailor warm Chorus Early in the morning, just at the break of day He handed me a five pound note and with it he did say Take this my darling for the damage I have done Maybe you’ll have a daughter and maybe you’ll have a son If you have a daughter, bounce her on your knee If you have a son, send the son-of-a-gun to sea The moral of the story you can plainly see Never trust a sailor an inch above your knee Mary Celestia Parler: Do you remember how long ago and where you were I mean when you learned - - - Kay Thresto: I remember I was in the seventh grade. MCP: Where? KT: Trinity, Texas. I learned it from another seventh grader. MCP: (laughing)Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation