Dennis Brulgruddery

DESCRIPTION: "I was born one day when my mother was out, In her reckoning, an accident brought it about." The dog, Dennis, attended the christening, so when mother said, "Down, Dennis," the priest baptized the baby Dennis. He marries; his wife dies.He finds another
AUTHOR: Words: Geoge Colman (source: The Traditional Tune Archive)
EARLIEST DATE: 1820 (New Musical and Vocal Cabinet)
KEYWORDS: humorous talltale clergy mother baby marriage wife death dog work | christening
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Jackson-EarlySongsOfUncleSam, pp. 166-167, "Birth, Parentage, and Education of Dennis Bulgruddery" (1 text)
Roud #31437
NOTES [58 words]: According to the Wikipedia entry "John Bull (play)," George Colman the Younger wrote the play "John Bull," which first appeared in 1803. It featured John Henry Johnstone as Dennis Brulgruddery. Based on the copy of this play on Google Books, it does not contain this song. But one suspects Colman eventually summarized the character in this song. - RBW
Last updated in version 7.0
File: JESU166

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography