1
When I was in my ’prenticeship and learnin’ of my trade
I courted my master’s daughter which made my heart right glad
I courted her both summer days and winter nights also,
But I could never her favour win - till I hired the Bogle Bo.
2
Day being gone and night comin’ on, my neighbour took a sheet,
And right into her room he went, just like a wanderin’ spirit;
She was running up and down, not knowing where to go,
But right into my bed she comes - for fear of the Bogle Bo.
3
So now my true love and me both fell fast asleep
And afore the dawn at fair daylight, sore, sore did she weep;
Sore sore did she weep, sore sore, did she mourn,
But afore she rose and put on her clothes, the Bogle Bo was gone.
4
“You’ve done the thing to me last neet, the thing you cannot shun,
You’ve ta’en away me maidenhead, and I am quite undone;
You’ve ta’en away me maidenhead, and brought me body low -
But kind sir, if you’ll marry me, I will be your Joe!”
5
So now I’ve married her and taken her hyem, and that was but me part,
She’s proved to me a lovin’ wife, the joy of all me heart.
Aa’ve never told her of the joke, nor ne’er intend to do,
But aye! when my wife smiles on me, I mind the Bogle Bo.
Song theme
On reading the verses, the theme of inveigling a young woman into bed had possibilities. Seduction is usually turns the head, but with humour it has extra appeal.
Where the woman is guileful, this adds to the thrill of the chase, so when at first she protests at her capture and seduction, this is followed the next morning with “But kind sir, if you’ll marry me, I will be your Joe!”
Could it be she has tricked him into the seduction? But all is well, they live happily together in marital bliss, with a wee chuckle as they sit together of an evening in front of the fire.
Origin of verses
The song comes from the north east of England. The verses appear in the collection John Bell’s Book of the Northern Bards (1812) .
Bogle Bo is a version belonging to the family of songs known as The Foggy, Foggy Dew.
Origin of tune
The tune, what about this? For a year or two I toyed with various tunes.
But then in a well-known book of folksongs, there was reference to The Foggy, Foggy Dew being sung to a popular Scottish melody.
I adapted this tune to the verses and arrive at this. As far as I know I am the only person who sings this version of the Bogle Bo!
Sam DoddsYour response to the Bogle Bo
I would be pleased to hear from anyone who has anything to add, or any comment to make, and they can be added to this page!
tel 01977 685122 or
ed.sam.music@virgin.net