Gently Does the Trick

DESCRIPTION: "Come all and hear me sing A song both good and wise" warning of various absurd conditions. Haste can be dangerous, "Gently does the trick," e.g. when dismounting an unbroken bronco or stealing a woman's jewelry
AUTHOR: Original music hall version by Punche Browne and sung by Arthur Corney; perhaps modified by Carson J. Robison
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Finger-FrontierBallads)
KEYWORDS: humorous trick thief cowboy
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Finger-FrontierBallads, pp. 114-115, "Gently Does the Trick" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #8870
NOTES [99 words]: From what I can piece together from Internet sources, this was originated by Punche Browne; it describes stealing women's lockets, being blown up by a boiler, going to church and stealing from a collection plate, and being put in prison. Finger-FrontierBallads's version is identical in form but completely different in content; it's about how cowboys get in trouble. However, it appears to be traditional, while the original Browne version does not. Clearly someone adapted the song; it may have been Carson J. Robison; I don't know. In any case, I see no point in separating the versions. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.0
File: Fing114

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