Nails

DESCRIPTION: "Oh, this world is like a bag of nails and some are very queer ones...." The singer describes the world in terms of nails: "The doctor nails you with a bill"; "the undertaker wishes you as dead as any doornail...."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1838 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 28(204))
KEYWORDS: work
FOUND IN: Australia Ireland
REFERENCES (2 citations):
OLochlainn-MoreIrishStreetBallads 96, "The Bag of Nails" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fahey-Eureka-SongsThatMadeAustralia, pp. 182-183, "Nails" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #V160
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 28(204), "The Bag of Nails," W. Wright (Birmingham), 1831-1837; also Firth b.26(28) View 2 of 2, "The Bag of Nails"
File: FaE182

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