Nicky Tams

DESCRIPTION: Singer works as a plowman, always wearing his nicky tams. He courts "bonnie Annie," who admires his nicky tams. A wasp flies up his pants in church; he won't go again without them. He thinks about other jobs, but he'll never forget wearing his nicky tams
AUTHOR: G. S. Morris
EARLIEST DATE: 1930s (composed)
KEYWORDS: courting clothes farming work humorous bug worker
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland, England(North))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
MacColl/Seeger-TravellersSongsFromEnglandAndScotland 107, "Nicky Tams" (1 text, 1 tune)
MacColl-PersonalChoice, p. 37, "Nicky Tams" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1875
RECORDINGS:
Jimmy McBeath, "Nicky Tams" (on Voice05)
Jimmy Scott, "Nickie Dams" (on Borders1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Berryfields of Blair" (tune)
SAME TUNE:
The Berryfields of Blaie (File: K339)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
A Pair of Nicky Tams
NOTES [41 words]: According to MacColl & Seeger, "Nicky tams," aka "yorks," "yaks," or "wull-tams," were leather thongs worn buckled just below the knee, to prevent the trouser legs from dragging in the mud. They were essential parts of a ploughman's attire. - PJS
Last updated in version 6.1
File: McCST107

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