She Was a Rum One

DESCRIPTION: Singer falls in with a girl and asks why she walks in such an inhibited way. He says he can solve her problem; she says the problem lies between her thighs. He lays her down and provides a plaster, and says she's given him "a stable for my stallion"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1907 (Greig/Duncan7)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Singer, in the moonlight, falls in with a young girl walking and asks why she walks in such an inhibited way; she tells him to go away. He says he can solve her problem; she says the problem lies between her thighs, and its tickling keeps her from her striding. He lays her down and provides a plaster, whereby she can walk freely again. He says she's given him his winter's beef and fuel, but, better than that, "a stable for my stallion." Chorus: "She was a rum one, fol-the-diddle-di-do-day/But a bonny one, fol-the-diddle-di-do"
KEYWORDS: sex bawdy
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Greig/Duncan7 1445, "She Was a Rum One" (1 text, 1 tune)
Kennedy-FolksongsOfBritainAndIreland 190, "She Was a Rum One" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, RUMONE*
Roud #2128
RECORDINGS:
Jeannie Robertson, "She is a Rum One" (on FSB2CD)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Seventeen Come Sunday" (general situation)
File: K190

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