My Young Wife and I

DESCRIPTION: "I merrily sing from morn to night And misery I defy, And I've a wife who with delight Sings just as happy as I." They go "Jogging along together, my boys, My dear young wife and I." They are happy all year round; who wants to be single?
AUTHOR: Claimed by Harry Richmond, who sang it (source: HarryRichmondsMyYoungWifeAndISongster)
EARLIEST DATE: 1868 (HarryRichmondsMyYoungWifeAndISongster)
KEYWORDS: love marriage nonballad home
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (5 citations):
HarryRichmondsMyYoungWifeAndISongster, pp. 9-10, "My Young Wife and I" (1 text)
Love-Among-the-Roses-Songster, p. 46, "My Young Wife and I" (1 text)
Velocipede-Songster, p. 56, "My Young Wife and I" (1 text)
Johnny-I-Hardly-Knew-Ye-Songster, pp. 50-51, "My Old Wife and I" (1 text)
Wolf-AmericanSongSheets, #1535, p. 105, "My Young Wife and I" (1 reference)
Roud #1400
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "My Rattlin' Oul' Grey Mare" (theme)
NOTES [102 words]: Steve Roud uses #1400 for what seem to me to be at least two songs, "My Rattlin' Oul' Grey Mare" and "My Old Wife and I"/"My Young Wife and I." The first of the three is clearly traditional; I don't see much evidence that the other two are. But I'm including this to point out that it is part of, shall we say, the Greater Roud #1400 Group.
I must admit that the title of this makes me think, "And just what does your OLD wife think of your young wife?" Indeed, the feeling becomes very different when the song shifts from "my young wife" to "my old wife." I wish I could show which version is the original. - RBW
Last updated in version 7.1
File: HRSo005

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