Bundle of Truths, A

DESCRIPTION: "Barney Bodkin broke his nose" is followed by truths, more or less: "without feet we can't have toes," "crazy folks are always mad," "a taylor's goose will never fly, ... And now, good folks, my song is done, Nobody knows what 'twas about"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1811 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 10(11))
KEYWORDS: humorous nonballad nonsense
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Opie/Opie-OxfordDictionaryOfNurseryRhymes 34, "Barney Bodkin broke his nose" (1 fragment)
Baring-Gould-AnnotatedMotherGoose #272, p. 163, "(Barney Bodkin broke his nose)"
Roud #19760
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 10(11), "A Bundle of Truths" ("Barney Bodkin broke his nose"), Laurie and Whittle (London), 1811; also Harding B 16(39d), Douce Ballads 4(58), "A Bundle of Truths"; Harding B 25(1879), Harding B 11(3728), "A Tailor's Goose Can Never Fly"; Harding B 25(36), "All Truth and No Lies" or "A Tailor's Goose Will Never Fly"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "When I've Money I am Merry" (tune, per broadside Bodleian Harding B 25(1879))
NOTES [85 words]: The first verse of the Bodleian broadsides is quoted in Opie/Opie-OxfordDictionaryOfNurseryRhymes 34, "Barney Bodkin broke his nose."
The chorus and two truths of the Bodleian broadsides are quoted in Opie/Opie-OxfordDictionaryOfNurseryRhymes 235, "Hyder iddle diddle dell": "Right fol de riddle del, A yard of pudding's not an ell, Not forgetting didderum hi, A taylor's goose can never fly."
A "tailor's goose" is a flat iron with a twisted wrought iron grip that, I guess, reminds someone of a goose's neck. - BS
Last updated in version 5.0
File: OO2034

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