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Jackie Rover

from Heading For Home by Peggy Seeger

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about

JACKIE ROVER

traditional USA

Peggy learned "Jackie Rover" from Norman Cazden's book Merry Ditties (1958) which in turn was a reprint of the second half of his Abelard Folk Song Book (1958). Milt Okun also sings this version on Riverside RLP 12-603 Merrie Ditties. The book says: "We have adapted the lines from a Massachusetts version" and "the tune somewhat resembles The Bold Soldier." To me the tune smacks of "Blow the Candles Out." A number of English examples are cited by Peter Kennedy in his Folksongs of Britain and Ireland (1975) with titles referring to various place names ("Has[z]elbury Girl" [or Happisburgh, Aylesbury, Salisbury]) as well as "Jack the Rover," "The Ups and Downs," and the earlier "Maid of Tottenham."

Versions from Arkansas and Missouri ("To Market, To Market" and "Tottingham Fair") are given in Vance Randolph and G. Legman's Roll Me in Your Arms: "Unprintable" Ozark Folksongs and Folklore Volume I: Folksongs and Music (1992). Legman dates the earliest printing of "Maid of Tottenham" to London 1656 and cites further North American versions from Idaho, North Carolina, and Ontario (nothing from Massachusetts). The 1939 printing in Louis W. Chappell's Folk-Songs of Roanoke and the Albermarle (as sung 1924 by Columbus Hooker in East Lake, North Carolina) is explicit: "ribbon" is "garter;" "tender arms" are "pretty little thighs;" the final verse is "Since I lost my maidenhead, Although I let her go, You are a ducking (sic) son of a bitch, And I'm your fancy whore." Legman lauds this as "the very first erotic ballad openly published in America." He refers to a 1953 Ontario version "Derby Town" collected by Edith Fowke as "the most vivid."

Legman and others posit a probable precursor of this ballad as Child 110 "The Knight and Shepherd's Daughter" and possibly Child 111 "Crow and Pie." (Joe Hickerson, August 2003)

lyrics

On business to market, butter and cheese to buy
He rode out a-singing all on the diddle-i-day
There he spied a pretty girl and a-being so inclined,
It's 'Do you want to ride along?" Well, she hopped on behind.

They rode on together so pleasant was the scene.
They chatted and they ambled till they come to yonder green.
She stepped down to tarry, 'twas then he did espy,
My dearest pretty darling: your ribbon's come untied.

O, sir, would you be willing, sir would you be kind
For to tie it up again? Dear girl, I wouldn't mind.
She held wide her tender arms and he fell right between
Such a tying of a ribbon, love, as never has been seen.

Now since you've been so forward, tell to me your name
And what is your business and wherefrom have you came?
My name is Jackie Rover, I hail from Back Bay
I spend my time in ups and downs all on the diddle-i-day.

They talked on a little further, being so inclined
Forgetting all their business nor never once brought to mind.
She looped her tender arms again and he rolled right between
Untied her little ribbon, love, then tied it up again.

credits

from Heading For Home, released October 7, 2003

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Peggy Seeger Oxford, UK

Peggy is one of the most influential folk singers on either side of the Atlantic. She is Pete Seeger’s half-sister and Ruth Crawford Seeger’s daughter; her first life partner was the English songwriter Ewan MacColl, who wrote First Time Ever I Saw Your Face for her. She has made more than 22 solo recordings to date. Please check ewanmaccoll.bandcamp.com for other albums featuring Peggy. ... more

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