They Sell't His Teeth to Teethe a Rake

DESCRIPTION: "They sell't his teeth to teethe a rake ... They sell't his ribs for riddle rims, His rumple banes to be claes pins. The blacksmith bocht his iron brogues, His carcase feasted the tanner's dogs."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1905 (Greig/Duncan3)
KEYWORDS: death horse
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Greig/Duncan3 644, "They Sell't His Teeth to Teethe a Rake" (2 fragments, 1 tune)
Roud #6077
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Besuthan
NOTES [54 words]: The current description is based on the Greig/Duncan3 fragment.
Greig/Duncan3 quoting a 1906 letter in Aberdeen Free Press: "['They Sell't His Teeth to Teethe a Rake'] refers to an old crofter or wandering tinker who had lost his horse, and the song goes on to tell how they disposed of his [i.e. the horse's] remains." - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD3644

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