Cabbage and Meat Song (The Half Hitch)- Pierce (Vermont) 1932 Flanders A
[From Flanders, Ballads Migrant to New England and also Ancient Ballads, 1966, version A, with music.
R. Matteson 2014]
A. Cabbage and Meat Song. Mrs. W. E. Pierce, Town Clerk of Northam, a part of Shrewsbury, Vermont, sang this song handed down through her father, J. K. Spaulding, born in 1837, who was postmaster at West Bridgewater, Vermont, for forty years. Mrs. Pierce's children always called it the "Cabbage and Meat Song." Printed in Ballads Migrant in New England, 31. Mrs. Pierce died in 1952. That year her daughter sang an almost identical version from words handwritten by Mrs. Pierce before her death. H. H. F., Collector; July 14, 1932
Structure: A B1 B2 C D C (4,4,4,4,2,4); Rhythm B; Contour: arc; Scale: Mixolydian; t.c. D.
Cabbage and Meat Song
A noble lord in Plymouth did dwell
He had a fine daughter, a beautiful gal
A young man of honor and riches supplied
He courted this fair maid to make her his bride, to make her his bride
He courted this fair maid to make her his bride.
He courted her long and gained her love
At length this fair maiden intended him to prove,
From the time that she owned him, she fairly denied,
She told him right off, she'd nor be his bride
She'd not be his bride,
She told him right off she'd not be his bride.
Then he said, "Straight home I will steer,"
And many an oath under her he did swear.
He swore he would wed the first woman he see
If she was as mean as a beggar could be,
As a beggar could be,
If she was as mean as a beggar could be.
She ordered her servants this man to delay.
Her rings and her jewels she soon laid away.
She dressed herself in the worst rags she could find.
She looked like the divil before and behind. Etc.
She clapped her hands on the chimney back,
She crocked her face all over so black,
Then down to the road she flew like a witch
With her petticoat hi-sted upon her half-hitch. Etc.
Soon this young man came riding along.
She stumbled before him, she scarcely could stand
With her old shoes on her feet all tread off askew.
FIe soon overtook her and said, "Who be you?" Etc.
SPOKEN: "I'm a woman, I s'pose."
This answer grieved him much to the heart,
He wished from his very life he might part.
Then he wished that he had been buried
And then he did ask her and if she was married. Etc.
SPOKEN: "No, I ain't."
This answer suited him much like the rest.
It lay very heavy and hard on his breast.
He found by his oath he must make her his bride.
Then he did ask her behind him to ride. Etc.
SPOKEN: "Your horse will throw me, I know he will."
"O no, O no, my horse he will not,"
So on behind him a-straddle she got.
His heart it did fail him. He dare nor go home
For his parents would. say, "I'm surely undone," Etc.
So to a neighbor with whom he was great
The truth of the story he dared relate.
He said, "Here with my neighbor you may tarry
And in a few days with you I will marry." Etc.
SPOKEN: "You won't. I know you won't."
He vowed that he would and straight home he did go.
He acquainted his father and mother also
Of what had befallen him, how he had sworn.
His parents said to him, "For that don't you mourn. Etc.
"Don't break your vows but bring home your girl
And we'll fix her up and she'll do very well."
The day was appointed. They invited the guests
And then they intended. the bride for to dress. Etc.
SPOKEN: "Be married in my old clothes, I s'pose!"
Married they were and sat down to eat.
with her hands she clawed out the cabbage and meat.
The pudding it burned her fingers so bad
She licked 'em, she wiped 'em along on her rags. Etc.
Hotter than ever, she at it again.
Soon they did laugh 'til their sides were in pain:
Soon they did say, "My jewel, my bride,
Come sit yourself down by you true lover's side." Etc.
SPOKEN: "Sit in the corner, s'pose, where I used ter."
Some were glad and very much pleased.
Others were sorry and very much grieved.
They ask them to bed the truth to decide
And then they invited both bridegroom and bride. Etc.
SPOKEN: "Give me a light and I'll go alone."
They gave her a light-what could she want more-
And showed her the way up to the chamber door.
SPOKEN: "Husband, when you hear my old shoe 'klonk' then you may come."
Up in the chamber she went klonking about.
His parents said to him, "What think she's about?"
"O mother, O mother, say not one word.
Not one bit of comfort to me this world can afford." Etc.
At length they heard her old shoe go klonk.
They gave him a light and bade him go along.
"I choose to go in the dark," he said,
"For I very well know the way to my bed." Etc.
He jumped into bed, his back to his bride.
She rolled and she tumbled from side unto side.
She rolled and she tumbled. The bed it did squeak.
He said unto her, "Why can't you lie still?" Etc.
SPOKEN: "I want a light to unpin my clothes."
He ordered a tight her clothes to unpin.
Behold she was dressed in the finest of things.
When he turned over her face to behold,
It was fairer to him than silver or gold. Etc.
Up they got and the frolic they had,
For many a heart was merry and glad.
They looked like two flowers just springing from bloom,
With many fair lassies who wished them much joy.