Factor's Song As I was walking in fair London town I saw a dead body lay there on the ground I ask-ed the reason that there made it lie And one was a lady made me this reply "His debts being unpaid He lies on the cold ground." 'Twas twenty pounds sterling I freely paid And into the ground this dead body was laid I traveled on further. I chanced for to see A beautiful lady that hang-eth must be ... Only for striking a Turkish lady. 'Twas twenty pounds sterling I fully laid down And took home with me to fair London town She is my housekeeper when I am from the land And whether I find to be just The keys to my riches I do with her trust. (The man was a duke) DT #545 Laws Q37 From Flanders and Brown, Vermont Folksongs and Ballads. Fragment of longer song. Collected from Sharon Harrington in Manchester, VT in 1930. SOF oct96
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