Digital Tradition Mirror

Factor's Song

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

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!

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