Courting in the Kitchen [Laws Q16]
DESCRIPTION: The singer warns listeners against love, "The devil's own invention." He courts a serving girl in her master's kitchen. When her master returns unexpectedly, she claims that the singer was forcing himself upon her. He winds up in prison
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1886 (broadside, Bodleian Firth c.18(275)), and used for a parody by Charles Thatcher by 1864
KEYWORDS: courting rape betrayal punishment prison
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar) Ireland
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Laws Q16, "Courting in the Kitchen"
Mackenzie-BalladsAndSeaSongsFromNovaScotia 147, "Courting in the Kitchen" (1 text, 1 tune)
OLochlainn-IrishStreetBallads 32, "Coortin' in the Kitchen" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT 527, COORTINK*
Roud #1007
RECORDINGS:
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, "Courting in the Kitchen" (on IRClancyMakem01)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Firth c.18(275), "Courting in the Kitchen," W.S. Fortey (London), 1858-1885; also 2806 c.14(39), "Courting in the Kitchen"
SAME TUNE:
Obstruction (Healy-MercierBookOfOldIrishStreetBalladsVol2, pp. 154-156)
The Surrender of the Natives (by Charles Thatcher) (File: BaRo039)
File: LQ16
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