Needlecases

DESCRIPTION: Singer, a peddler, is poor and hungry, and offers to sell the listener needlecases. He was once well-off, but is now homeless and friendless; once a farmer, now in rags. Since the listener won't buy, he's off, but asks listener to buy some if he returns.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1923 (Williams-FolkSongsOfTheUpperThames)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Singer, a peddler, is poor and hungry, and offers to sell the listener needlecases. He was once well-off, but is now homeless and friendless; once a farmer, he's now in rags. Since the listener won't buy, he's off, but asks listener to buy some if he returns. Chorus: "Needlecases, will you buy one?/You will buy one, I'm sure/Won't you buy a case o' needles/From Jack that's so poor?"
KEYWORDS: poverty request clothes commerce hardtimes
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South, North))
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Gardham-EarliestVersions, "NEEDLE-CASES"
Williams-FolkSongsOfTheUpperThames, pp. 234-235, "Needle-cases" (1 text) (also Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Gl 152)
Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Mi 647, "Needle-cases" (1 text)
Kennedy-FolksongsOfBritainAndIreland 233, "Needlecases" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1300
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Case of Needles
NOTES [14 words]: We haven't keywords for "peddler" or "street-cry," so "commerce" will have to do. - PJS
Last updated in version 6.8
File: K233

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