Up to the Rigs

DESCRIPTION: Singer goes to Cheapside in London, where he picks up a girl. He takes her to dinner; she invites him to bed. When she falls asleep, he steals a snuff box, gold watch, diamond ring, and money, then locks her in. He tells men to remember his example
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1851 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 25(1624))
KEYWORDS: courting seduction sex crime theft food trick
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South),Scotland(Aber)), Ireland Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Greig/Duncan2 299, "The Rigs of London" (4 texts, 3 tunes)
Kennedy-FolksongsOfBritainAndIreland 192, "Up to the Rigs" (1 text, 1 tune)
Reeves/Sharp-TheIdiomOfThePeople 80, "The Rigs of London Town" (1 text)
Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Ox 254, "Up To the Rigs of London Town" (1 text)
Roud #868
RECORDINGS:
Harry Cox, "Up to the Rigs of London Town" (on HCox01)
Raymond Noseworthy, "Up to the Rigs" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
Charlie Wills, "Up to the Rigs [of London Town]" (on FSB02, FSB2CD, Voice07)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 25(1624), "The Rigs of London Town" ("As I walk'd up London streets one day"), C. Croshaw (York), 1814-1850
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Rigs of London Town
Cheapside
London Town
NOTES [3 words]: Tables turned. - PJS
Last updated in version 4.2
File: K192

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