Preaching for Bacon

DESCRIPTION: Tinker George, Methodist parson, often visited a farmer's wife to preach and get a piece of bacon. Her husband, "no Methodist he," sees his store of bacon shrink. He catches them at prayer, notices bacon in George's pocket and chases George away.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1867 (broadside, Bodleian 2806 c.13(61))
KEYWORDS: greed farming food wife clergy
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Gardham-EarliestVersions, "PREACHING FOR BACON"
Williams-FolkSongsOfTheUpperThames, pp. 278-279, "Preaching for Bacon" (1 text) (also Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 410)
ADDITIONAL: Notes and Queries (London, 1871 ("Digitized by Google")), January-June 1871, Fourth Series Vol. VII, p. 171, "[4th S, vi. 566]" "Parson and Bacon", ("A Methodist parson whose name it was George") (1 text)
Roud #1317
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 2806 c.13(61)[only the last 6 of 9 or 10 verses are legible], "The Methodist Parson" or "Preaching for Bacon" ("A methodist parson whose name it was George") , J. Harkness (Preston), 1840-1866; also Firth b.26(315), Harding B 16(212a), "Preaching for Bacon"; Harding B 17(97a) [some words illegible], "The Flitch of Bacon"; Harding B 25(1249), "A Methodist Parson"
NOTES [128 words]: Note that George being a tinker, stated in the second line of the text, immediately invokes the stereotype of the gypsy or thief.
The Bodleian 2806 c.13(61) and and Notes and Queries texts both use a "Derry down, down, down, derry down!" chorus, without stating that "Derry Down" is the tune.
Notes and Queries: "This was heard from a genuine Northman, about the year 1823.... This song would appear at times to have been in use both by Roman Catholics and Protestants, and, of course, with such variations as to suit the requirements of both parties."
Referring to the "Notes and Queries" note, said to be "a Lincolnshire song" (source: Notes and Queries General Index Series the Fourth (1868-1873) Vols. I to XII (London, 1874 ("Digitized by Google")), p. 110). - BS
Last updated in version 6.8
File: WT278

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