Before the Daylight in the Morning (Dirty Nell)

DESCRIPTION: The singer complains of his wife, who lives off his money and refuses to do any work. He gives graphic details of how dirty she is and how filthy she leaves their home. He prays "that God or the devil may whip her away Before the daylight in the morning."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1960 (Leach-FolkBalladsSongsOfLowerLabradorCoast)
KEYWORDS: husband wife home hardtimes
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar,Newf) US(MW)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Leach-FolkBalladsSongsOfLowerLabradorCoast 121, "Dirty Nell" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #5714
RECORDINGS:
Sara Cleveland, "Before the Daylight in the Morning" (on SCleveland01)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Darby O'Leary" (tune)
File: RcBTDITM

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