As Robin Was Driving

DESCRIPTION: "As Robin was driving his wagon along, The trees in full blossom..." Robin sees a "fair damsel" and offers her a ride. When she asks his name, he says, "But as for the other one, I dare not tell For fear this young damsel should chance for to swell."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1911 (collected from "Blue" Fisher by Butterworth)
KEYWORDS: courting sex pregnancy
FOUND IN: Britain(England(Lond))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Gardham-EarliestVersions, "BONNY ROBIN"
Butterworth/Dawney-PloughboysGlory, p. 8, "As Robin Was Driving" (1 text, 1 tune)
Palmer-FolkSongsCollectedBy-Ralph-VaughanWilliams, #73, "Bonny Robin" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1396
NOTES [70 words]: The notes in Butterworth/Dawney-PloughboysGlory imply this has been expurgated -- presumably of verses in which Robin convinces the girl to lay down with him, since he fears that she will get pregnant. The notes also state that there are other versions of the song -- but do not cite any. Roud shows none (he lists multiple printings, but they're all from the same informant), and I have not seen the song elsewhere. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.8
File: BuDa008

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