Tam Buie (Tam Bo, Magherafelt Hiring Fair)

DESCRIPTION: The (widow) attempts to hire Tam. He asks about his wages. He talks her into an increase, then asks about his diet. Satisfied, he asks where he will sleep. After turning down several offers, he agrees to sleep with, and marry, her
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1828 (Buchan)
KEYWORDS: worker courting marriage home bargaining
FOUND IN: Ireland Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Greig/Duncan7 1424, "The Rigwuddy Carlin" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H748, p. 263, "Magherafelt Hiring Fair" (1 text, 1 tune)
Kennedy-FolksongsOfBritainAndIreland 194 (notes), (no title) (1 text, probably incomplete, but recognizably this, treated as a version of "Bargain With Me"; Kennedy also includes a portion of the Sam Henry text)
ADDITIONAL: Peter Buchan, Ancient Ballads and Songs of the North of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1875 (reprint of 1828 edition)), Vol II, pp. 230-233, "The Rigwoodie Carlin'"
Roud #366
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Bargain With Me" (plot)
cf. "My Good Old Man" (format)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Tam Bowie
The Wanton Widow
NOTES [42 words]: In plot, this is identical with "Bargain With Me," but the form resembles nothing so much as "My Good Old Man." It seems to me best to keep "Tom Buie" and "Bargain With Me" separate, while noting their extreme similarity. Roud of course lumps them. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.5
File: HHH748

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