Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Sussex Whistling Song
Sussex Whistling Song.
This is a countryman's whistling song, a great favourite, and very old. The tune is "Lillibulero," and is sung in this fashion:—The first line of each verse is given as a solo, the tune is then taken up by a chorus of whistlers, who execute that portion of the air which would be sung to the words "Lillibulero bullen a la;" the singer then goes on with the tune, and completes the verse, the strain being again taken up and concluded by the whistlers. This song is the "traditionary verses" upon which Burns founded his "Carle of Killyburn Braes."
There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,
[Chorus of whistlers.]
There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,
And he had a bad wife, as many knew well.
[Chorus of whistlers.]
Then Satan came to the old man at the plough,
"One of your family I must have now;
It is not your eldest son that I crave,
But it is your old wife, and she I will have."
"O welcome, good Satan, with all my heart,
I hope you and she will never more part."
Now Satan has got the old wife on his back,
And he lugged her along like a pedlar's pack.
He trudged away till he came to his hall gate,
Says he, "Here take in an old Sussex chap's mate!"
O, then she did kick the young imps about,
Says one to the other, "Let's try turn her out."
She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains,
She up with her pattens, and beat out their brains.
She knocked the old Satan against the wall,
"Let's try turn her out, or she'll murder us all."
Now he bundled her upon his back amain,
And to her old husband he took her again;
"I have been a tormentor the whole of my life,
But I ne'er was tormented till I met with your wife."
[Chorus of whistlers.]
There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,
And he had a bad wife, as many knew well.
[Chorus of whistlers.]
Then Satan came to the old man at the plough,
"One of your family I must have now;
It is not your eldest son that I crave,
But it is your old wife, and she I will have."
"O welcome, good Satan, with all my heart,
I hope you and she will never more part."
Now Satan has got the old wife on his back,
And he lugged her along like a pedlar's pack.
He trudged away till he came to his hall gate,
Says he, "Here take in an old Sussex chap's mate!"
O, then she did kick the young imps about,
Says one to the other, "Let's try turn her out."
She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains,
She up with her pattens, and beat out their brains.
She knocked the old Satan against the wall,
"Let's try turn her out, or she'll murder us all."
Now he bundled her upon his back amain,
And to her old husband he took her again;
"I have been a tormentor the whole of my life,
But I ne'er was tormented till I met with your wife."