Songs of sex and seduction from The Folk Handbook. These links will bring up MIDI files of the tunes, which should play automatically in your browser. If not you may need to download a QuickTime or Windows Media Player plug-in.
- The Bedmaking
This version was collected by Cecil Sharp from Mrs Lizzie Welch at Hambridge, Somerset, on April 5th, 1904. She called it ‘My Mother Sent Me To Service’.
- The Crabfish
As sung by Charlie Stringer.
- The Cunning Cobbler
Collected by Cecil Sharp from William Nott at Meshaw, Devonshire, on January 12th, 1904. The manuscript gives the song two titles: ‘The Little Cobbler’ and ‘The Cobbler And The Butcher’.
- The Game Of All Fours
Collected by Cecil Sharp from Charles Ash at Crowcombe, in Somerset, on September 16th, 1906. In the manuscript it is called ‘The Pack Of Cards’.
- The Molecatcher
Collected by George Gardiner from George Digweed at Micheldever in Hampshire in 1906.
- My Husband's Got No Courage In Him
Collected by Cecil Sharp from John Vincent (aged 72) at Harptree Lodge, Priddy, on August 29th, 1906, as ‘Oh Dear No’.
- The Nutting Girl
This version was collected by George Gardiner from Charles Chivers at Basingstoke, Hampshire, in August 1906.
- The Thrashing Machine
Collected by Cecil Sharp from William Nott (left) at Meshaw, Devonshire, on January 9th, 1904. The song is usually sung to a tune known as ‘Villikins And Dinah’.
