Coachman's Whip

DESCRIPTION: Singer takes a job with young lady who needs a coachman to "drive her in style." He drives her "ten times round the room"; she asks for a look at his whip. He takes her riding, but on the first turn breaks a spring; her maid takes the next ride
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1957 (Pinto & Rodway, from a Nottingham broadside)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Singer takes a job as coachman; his employer is a young lady who informs him that she needs a coachman to "drive her in style." He drives her "ten times round the room"; she takes him to the cellar and feeds him whisky, then asks for a look at his whip. After holding it, she says, smiling, that by the look and length of it they could go ten miles. He takes her riding, but on the first turn breaks a spring; she calls for her serving maid, saying that while her spring is being repaired "I'll let him drive you for a while"
KEYWORDS: sex work drink bawdy humorous servant
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South,West))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Gardham-EarliestVersions, "COACHMAN'S WHIP, THE"
Kennedy-FolksongsOfBritainAndIreland 172, "The Coachman's Whip" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, COACHMN*
Roud #862
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Chandler's Wife" (plot)
cf. "The Farm Servant (Rap-Tap-Tap)" (plot)
cf. "The Jolly Barber Lad" (plot)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Coachman
The Jolly Driver
File: K172

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