Merrily Kissed The Quaker slide

Also known as The Humours Of Last Night, Kiss The Crater, Kiss The Quaker’s Wife, Merrily Danc’d The Quaker’s Wife, Merrily Danced The Quaker’s Wife, Merrily Danced The Quakers Wife, Merrily Kiss The Quaker, Merrily Kiss The Quaker’s Wife, Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Daughter, Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Wife, The Quaker, The Quaker’s Wife.

There are 92 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

Merrily Kissed The Quaker appears in 2 other tune collections.

Merrily Kissed The Quaker has been added to 215 tune sets.

Merrily Kissed The Quaker has been added to 1,482 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Fourteen settings

1
X: 1
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:D|GAB G2B c2A BGE|GAB DEG A2A AGE|
GAB GAB cBA BGE|GAB AGF G3 G2:|
|:A|BGG AGG BGG AGG|GAB DEG A2A AGA|
BGG AGG BGG AGG|GAB AGF G3 G2:|
|:d|g2g a2a bag edB|g2g gab a2a agf|
g2g f2f ege dBA|GAB AGF G3 G2:|
2
X: 2
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GAB DED ~c2A BGE|GAB DED ~A2B AGE|
GAB DED ~c2A BGE|GAB DED ~G3 G3:|
|:G2B ~d3 edB d2B|G2B d2B ~A3 AGE|
~G2B ~d3 edB d2B|GAB ~D3 ~G3 G2D:|
|:~G2B d2d edB ~g2e|dBA GBd ~e2f g2g|
ged BAB d2B AGE|GAB DED ~G3 G2D:|
3
X: 3
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
D|G2B d2d|edB dBA|G2B dBG|ABA A2D|
G2B d2d|edB dBA|GAB D2E|GAG G2D|
4
X: 4
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
D|:G2B d2d edB dBA|G2B dBG ABA A2D|
G2B d2d edB dBA|GAB D2E GAG G2D:|
5
X: 5
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:A|def AFA|BGB ~A3|def A2g|f2a gfe|
def AFA|BGB ~A3|fed faf|~e3 d2:|
|:A|def f2a|f2a fed|def faf|efe ecA|
def f2a|f2a fed|fed faf|~e3 d2:|
|:A|def A2f|g2f ~e3|def AFA|BAB d2A|
def A2f|agf ~e3|def ecA|1 ~G3 d2:|2 B3 d2||
A|def a2f|a2f a2f|def a2g|~f3 a2f|
def a2f|b2f a2f|def ecA|~B3 d2A|
def a2f|b2f a2f|def a2g|~f3 a3|
b2g efg|a2f d2A|def ecA|~B3 d2||
6
X: 6
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
M:6/8
|:A|def A2 f|g2 f e3|def A2 A|B3 d3|
d>ef A2 f|a>gf e2 c|d>ef {f/}ecA|1 G3 d2:|2 B3 d2||
|:A|def a2 f|a2 f a2 f|def a2 g|f3 a2 f|
def a2 f|b2 f a2 f|def ecA|B3 d3|
def a2 f|b2 f a2 f|def a2 g|f3 a2 a|
b2 g efg|a2 f d2 A|def {f/}[A2e2] A|B3 d2||
|:A|def A2 A|BGB A2 A|def A2 g|f2 a gfe|
def A2 A|BGB A2 A|{f/g/}fed faf|e3 d2:|
|:A|de[df] [d2f2] a|f2 a fed|def faf|efe ecA|
def [d2f2] a|f2 a f>ed|fed faf|e3 d2:|
7
X: 7
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
M:6/8
|:GAB D2 B|c2 B A3|GAB D2 D|E3 G3:|
GAB d2 B|e2 B d3|GAB d2 B|c3 d3|
e2 c ABc|d2 B G3|GAB D2 D|E3 G3||
8
X: 8
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:D|GAB D3 BcA BGE|GAB DEG ABG AGE|
GAB D2 B c2 A BGE|GAB D2 E G3 G2:|
|:A|BGG AGG BGG AGE|GAB DEG ABA AGA|
BGG AGG BGG AGE|GAB D2 E G3 G2:|
|:B/d/|gfg aga bge dBd|gfg gab a3 agf|
gag fgf ege dBA|GAB D2 E G3 G2:|
9
X: 9
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
M:6/8
|:(d>ef) A2 f|g2 f {f/}e2 d|(d>ef) A2 A|(B3 d2) A|
d>ef A2 f|g2 f {f/}e2 d|d>ef A2 A|B3 d2 z:|
(d2 f) (a2 f)|b2 g a3|d2 f {f/}a2 g|f3 a2 z|
b2 g efg|a2 f d2 d|d>ef A2 A|B3 d2 z:|
10
X: 10
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
D|GAB D2B c2A BGE|GAB DEG A3 AGE|
GAB D2B c2A BGE|GAB D2E G3 D2|
GAB D2B c2A BGE|GAB D3 A3 AGE|
GAB D3 c2A BGE|GAB D3 G3 A2||
BGG AGG BGG AGE|GAB DEG A3 AGA|
BGG AGG BGG AGE|GAB D2E G3 G2|
BDD ADD BDD AGE|GAB D3 A3 AGA|
BDD ADD BDD AGE|GAB D3 G3 d2||
g3 aga bag dB/c/d|g3 gab a3 agf|
g3 f3 e/f/ge dBA|GAB D2E G3 d2|
g3 aga bag dB/c/d|g3 gab a3 agf|
gc/a/g fc/a/f ec/a/e dBA|GAB D2E G3 G2||
# Added by JACKB .
11
X: 11
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
def ABA BGB ABA|def A2A f2a fed|
def ABA BGB A2g|fed faf e3 d2||
|:def f2a f2a fed|dcd a2f ege e2A|
def f2a f2a fed|gfe agf e3 d2:|
12
X: 12
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:D|"G"GA"g"B D2"g"B "C"c2A "D"BG"d"E|"G"GA"g"B DE"g"G "D"A2"d"A AG"d"E|
"G"GA"g"B D2"g"B "C"c2A "D"BG"d"E|"G"GA"g"B "D"DE"d"F "G"(G2"g"G) G2:|
|:A|"G"BG"g"G "D"AG"d"G "G"BG"g"G "D"AG"d"E|"G"GA"g"B DE"g"G "D"A2"d"A AG"d"A|
"G"BG"g"G "D"AG"d"G "G"BG"g"G "D"AG"d"E|"G"GA"g"B "D"DE"d"F "G"(G2"g"G) G2:|
|:d|"G"gf"g"g "D"ag"d"a "G"bg"g"e dB"g"d|g2"g"g ga"g"b "D"a2"d"a ag"d"f|
"G"g2"g"g "D"fg"d"f "C"eg"c"e "D"dB"d"A|"G"GA"g"B "D"DE"d"F "G"(G2"g"G) G2:|
13
X: 13
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:D|GAB D2B c2A BGE|GAB DEG ~A3 AGE|
GAB D2B c2A BGE|GAB D2 E G3 G2:|
|:c|BGG AGG BGG AGE|GAB DEG A3 AGA|
BGG AGG BGG AGE|GAB D2E G3 G2:|
|:d|~g3 aga bge dBd|~g3 gab ~a3 aba|
gbg faf ege dBA|GAB D2 E G3 G2:|
14
X: 14
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Ddor
|:A|def A2f|g2e fdB|def ABd|eee edB|
def A2f|g2e fdB|def A2B|ddd d2:|
e|fdd edd|fdd edB|def ABd|eee ede|
fdd edd|fdd edB|def A2B|eee e2g|
fdd edd|dfd edB|def ABd|eee ede|
fdd edd|fff edB|def A2B|eee e2|
|:A|ddd ede|fdB AAA|ddd def|eee ed^c|
ddd ^cdc|BdB Afe|def A2B|eee e2:|

Forty-four comments

Apparently there are words to go with this song: I’m sure I remember hearing somebody sing “Merrily kissed the quaker’s wife and merrily kissed the quaker…” to the tune of the first few bars. If anybody knows more words to go with this tune, be sure to add them.

I’ve shown the first part of the tune with a little variation, turning the typical slide rhythm of the first couple of bars into a more jig-like rhythm for the next two bars.

Jig, perhaps?

I play this as a jig…hmmmmmm…

Jig - slightly different

This is very close to the version which I know as a jig. Never seen it as a slide before, interesting…

I think the confusion is that this tune is one of those rare slides that are played kinda funny, some folks call them Single Jigs or Hop Jigs. These can also be played as regular jigs as well , they lend themselves to all sorts of different time signatures, but are normally notated in 12/8. They’re played a lot faster than a garden variety “slide”, If you have the Michael Coleman 78’s he plays the “FoxHunters” as a single. I’m sure Zina could clarify the difference from a dancers perspective.

Words to the Tune

Here are words to the tune learned a good few years ago from Cathal McConnell

The Quaker’s wife she baked a scone
And Johnny danced while it was on
Merrily kiss the Quaker’s wife
And merrily kiss the Quaker

Found the words!

The Quaker’s wife sat down to bake
With all her bairns about her.
She made them all a sugar cake,
And the miller he wants his mouter (i.e. a fee for grinding flour).
Sugar and spice and all things nice,
And all things very good in it,
And then the Quaker sat down to play
A tune upon the spinet.
Merrily danced the Quaker’s wife,
And merrily danced the Quaker
Merrily danced the Quaker’s wife,
And merrily danced the Quaker.

Diddled version of Merrily Kiss the Quakers Wife

Or Merrily Quak The Wife

Re: Diddled version of Merrily Kiss the Quakers Wife

Hi PP,

One of the first guest musicians to appear on a Chieftains album was lilter Pat Kilduff and he lilted the Quaker tune on the last track of Chieftains 3.

You can also check out this site if you are into the lilting thing:

http://www.ubu.com/ethno/soundings/celtic.html

I like the version of “Within a Mile to Dublin” that is on this site.

Greg

Re: Diddled version of Merrily Kiss the Quakers Wife

btw I’d be careful about saying “I diddled the Quaker’s Wife”, as that has certain connotations in the S. Ontario dialect…

Re: Diddled version of Merrily Kiss the Quakers Wife

In the States, too. ;)

Here’s the version played on track 12 of The Chieftains 3. There are substantial differences in the second and third parts.

X: 1
T:Merrily Kiss the Quaker
M:12/8
L:1/8
R:Slide
K:G
GAB DED ~c2A BGE|GAB DED ~A2B AGE|GAB DED ~c2A BGE|GAB DED ~G3 G3:|
|:G2B ~d3 edB d2B|G2B d2B ~A3 AGE|~G2B ~d3 edB d2B|GAB ~D3 ~G3 G2D:|
|:~G2B d2d edB ~g2e|dBA GBd ~e2f g2g|ged BAB d2B AGE|GAB DED ~G3 G2D:|

Seamus Ennis played and transcribed this tune as a slide, and the same version too. Could be why its posted that why, even though many of you play it as a jig.

Posted by .

In the ’70’s a reliable researcher told me that the earliest known manuscript appearance of this tune was in a tune-book found in Weardale in Co. Durham, England.
I don’t know the age of the MS, and of course no researcher can summon up for comparison all the tune-books that ever existed - even if appearance in one could date a tune, which is very often not the case.
But it’s nice to think there could just be an outside chance that this ITM standard started life in my patch of England (-after all, porter started off in England, as a brewery worker’s mistake!.).
I’ll check this column for refutations…

The above website suggests the tune was generally known in England and Scotland by and after the mid c18, anyway.

Also known as…

Also known as “That tune about the duck.” - Merrily Kissed the Quacker.
Boom boom !

on the chieftans “tears of stone” they slip this in at the end of deserted soldier. the version is as posted above by turophile.
they call it “the kerry slide” and they play it in F. I’d nearly consider it a different tune as the B and C parts are quite different to merrily…

“Merrily Kiss the Quaker” ~ Bulmer & Sharpley

“Music From Ireland, Volume One”
compiled by Dave Bulmer & Neil Sharpley, 1974
ISBN: 0-9503784-02

Page 30, tune #77: “Merrily Kiss the Quaker”

X: 77
T: Merrily Kiss the Quaker
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
R: slide
K: G Major
|: D |
GAB D3 BcA BGE | GAB DEG ABG AGE |
GAB D2 B c2 A BGE | GAB D2 E G3 G2 :|
|: A |
BGG AGG BGG AGE | GAB DEG ABA AGA |
BGG AGG BGG AGE | GAB D2 E G3 G2 :|
|: B/d/ |
gfg aga bge dBd | gfg gab a3 agf |
gag fgf ege dBA | GAB D2 E G3 G2 :|

The Robert Burns version

NINE INCH WILL PLEASE A LADY
(Robert Burns)

Come rede me dame, come tell me dame,
My dame come tell me truly,
What length o’ graith when weel ca’d hame
Will sair a woman duly?"
The carlin clew her wanton tail,
Her wanton tail sae ready,
"l learn’d a sang in Annandale,
Nine inch will please a lady."

"But for a koontrie eejit like mine,
In sooth we’re not sae gentle;
We’ll tak tway thumb-bread to the nine,
And that is a sonsy pintle.
Oh, Leeze me on, my Charlie lad,
I’ll ne’er forget my Charlie,
Tway roaring handfuls and a daud
He nidged it in fu’ rarely."

But wear fa’ the laithron doup
And may it ne’er be thriving,
It’s not the length that makes me loup
But it’s the double drivin.
Come nidge me Tom, come nidge me Tom
Come nidge me, o’er the nyvel
Come lowse an lug your battering ram
And thrash him at my gyvel!

Was this ever a pipe tune, perhaps in D?
I only ask because I was recently reading Steele Rudd’s book of comic stories “The Poor Parson” (set in 19thC rural Australia) in which a central character “Duncan McClure” gets his pipes out at a dance and plays “The Quaker’s Wife” according to the author.
Given that Rudd’s transcription of Doric speech seems accurate enough, I’d guess that the tune detail is from real life observation.

Posted by .

4th part ?

When I learned that tune ages ago, from an old cassette, it was played with a fourth part :
D|G2B d2d|edB dBA|G2B dBG|ABA A2D|
G2B d2d|edB dBA|GAB D2E|GAG G2D|
but I don’t know much more… except no one around me seems to know anything about that fourth part…

And the cassette is long lost…

4th part ?

I’m used to play “Merrily kissed the Quaker’s wife” with a fourth part, but it seems, apart from one or two friends, no one else plays that 4th part. I posted it in the tunes’ section :
https://thesession.org/tunes/70/comments
I’d be glad to know if there actually is a version with a fourth part…
It would have been recorded in the 70es, it’s one of the first irish tune I learned…

Sorry, I put it in 6/8. here’s the “correct” ABC in 12/8 :

D |: G2B d2d edB dBA | G2B dBG ABA A2D |
| G2B d2d edB dBA | GAB D2E GAG G2D :|

I suspect the ‘ceili band’ influence. They needed it to fit the basic 32 bars for a dance and threw in the 4th part so that it added up to 64 bars, or 2 x 32, but of course, if you’re doing it in 12/8 that would be the equivalent of 32 bars of 12/8, 2 x 16… Ceili bands take liberties. That’s my guess. I’d be curious to hear the specifics if anyone can name a recording of this with 4-parts, and the band/musicians…

Damn, having said that, your 4th part is familiar. I’m going to have to check through my notes. I’ve a sneaking suspicion there may have been something like that in an old Armagh Pipers publication, which, unfortunately I haven’t on hand. It was three small booklets of tunes, I think for the whistle… I’ll see what I can dig up.

Two Version from Danny O’Donnell

Here are 2 versions of the tune picked up from transcriptions of Danny O’Donnell in “The Northern Fiddler”. The first has something of the 6/8 pipe march about it.

K:Dmaj
|:A|def AFA|BGB ~A3|def A2g|f2a gfe|
|def AFA|BGB ~A3|fed faf|~e3 d2:|
|:A|def f2a|f2a fed|def faf|efe ecA|
|def f2a|f2a fed|fed faf|~e3 d2:|

K:Dmaj
|:A|def A2f|g2f ~e3|def AFA|BAB d2A|
|def A2f|agf ~e3|def ecA|1 ~G3 d2:|2 B3 d2||
|:A|def a2f|a2f a2f|def a2g|~f3 a2f|
|def a2f|b2f a2f|def ecA|~B3 d2A|
|def a2f|b2f a2f|def a2g|~f3 a3|
|b2g efg|a2f d2A|def ecA|~B3 d2|

\

X: 3
T: Merrily Kiss the Quaker
B: “Music From Ireland, Volume One”, Bulmer & Sharpley, 1974, Page 30, tune #77
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
R: slide
K: G Major
|: D |\
GAB D3 BcA BGE | GAB DEG ABG AGE |
GAB D2 B c2 A BGE | GAB D2 E G3 G2 :|
|: A |\
BGG AGG BGG AGE | GAB DEG ABA AGA |
BGG AGG BGG AGE | GAB D2 E G3 G2 :|
|: B/d/ |\
gfg aga bge dBd | gfg gab a3 agf |
gag fgf ege dBA | GAB D2 E G3 G2 :|

X: 4 ~ a curious 4th part courtesy of Nikita Pfister

“Merrily Kissed the Quaker’s Wife” ~ headers, corrections & sources

X: 5
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Wife
B: “The Northern Fiddler”, Feldman & O’Doherty, page 183
S: Danny O’Donnell
N: 1st version
Z: Allen Feldman
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig, single
K: DMaj
|: A |\
def A2 f | g2 f e3 | def A2 A | B3 d3 |
d>ef A2 f | a>gf e2 c | d>ef ({f/}e)cA |[1 G3 d2 :|[2 B3 d2 ||
|: A |\
def a2 f | a2 f a2 f | def a2 g | f3 a2 f |
def a2 f | b2 f a2 f | def ecA | B3 d3 |
def a2 f | b2 f a2 f | def a2 g | f3 a2 a |
b2 g efg | a2 f d2 A | def ({f/}[A2e2]) A | B3 d2 |]

X: 6
T: Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Wife
B: “The Northern Fiddler”, Feldman & O’Doherty, page 183
S: Danny O’Donnell
N: 2nd version
Z: Allen Feldman
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig, single
K: DMaj
|: A |\
def A2 A | BGB A2 A | def A2 g | f2 a gfe |
def A2 A | BGB A2 A | ({f/g/}f)ed faf | e3 d2 :|
|: A |\
de[df] [d2f2] a | f2 a fed | def faf | efe ecA |
def [d2f2] a | f2 a f>ed | fed faf | e3 d2 :|

See those above:
# Posted on January 30th 2011 by LongNote

“The Quaker’s Wife” ~ a rescued note

From Bill Ochs’ tin whistle book:

X: 7
T: Quaker’s Wife, The
:
S: Bill Ochs
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Gmaj
|: GAB D2 B | c2 B A3 | GAB D2 D | E3 G3 :|
GAB d2 B | e2 B d3 | GAB d2 B | c3 d3 |
e2 c ABc | d2 B G3 | GAB D2 D | E3 G3 |]

# Posted on October 29th 2012 by megapop


“The Clark Tin Whistle Book” - Bill Ochs
http://www.pennywhistle.com/
http://www.pennywhistle.com/bio.html

Bill Ochs: The Chiff & Fipple Interview
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/billochs.htm

Sorry I haven’t given a bit more specific information on this, but I can’t find my copy of the Ochs book amongst our library of method books. I might have given it away to an aspiring whistle player.

X: 9 “The Quaker’s Wife” ~ Donegal

B: “Dances of Donegal”, collected by Grace Orpen, D.M. Wilkie, London, 1931
The first few pages of this book, and its first tune & dance:
“The Fairy Dance” - https://thesession.org/tunes/424

ITMA: Irish Traditional Music Archive/Taisce Cheol DÚchais Éireann
http://www.itma.ie/
Grace Orpen’s Local Donegal Dances, 1931
http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/print-collection/donegal-dances-1931
“Dances of Donegal” collected and edited by Grace Orpen, 1931
Click on ‘32 Pages’ to view them, with Grace Orpen’s ‘Figures’/illustrations…
http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/book/dances-of-donegal

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
page 16 - music notation / page 17 - dance description
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dance: A Trip to the Cottage
Tune: The Quaker’s Wife (6/8 - 12/8 = AABBCC)

Four Dancers: 2 Men and 2 Women.

Steps - - - - - - - - - Description - - - - - - - - - Bars (& see ITMA link for figure/illustration 2)

- - - Introduction. - - - 8

1 - - - Advance and retire. Repeat. - - - 8

2 - - - “Women’s Chain.”
- - - Women link right arms and turn each other, then link left arms with own partner and turn him. (4)
- - - Repeat - - - 8

3 - - - “Men’s chain.” - - - 8

4 - - - Partners swing.

5 - - - Partners join inside hands. All advance and cross over to opposite side of dance, 1st couple passing under an arch made by 2nd couple. - - - 4
- - - Dance in place. - - - 4
- - - Repeat back to place, 2nd couple passing under arch (made by 1st couple). - - - 4
- - - Dance in place. - - - 4

6 - - - Partners swing. - - - 8



Fig. I - O = man / X = woman

2nd couple
X-O

O-X
1st couple
_________
music-stage


<[ NOTES: This is another I danced and collected in Donegal in the 70s, though collected with a little bit more to it, danced to and fitting perfectly 3-part jigs. Curiously, ‘not’ danced to the jig of the same name, which has only 2 parts. I’ve also taught this as a longways improper set, with a minor progression, two facing couples finishing by exchanging places up and down to face and dance with a new couple, those reaching the foot/bottom or head/top of the set changing sides and waiting out once through the dance. As the movements are all equal in the version I know, it can also be danced as a ‘Sicilian circle’, all around the hall, one set of couples facing ACW and progressing ACW / the couples facing CW and progressing CW. I taught it as “Donegal Trip to the Cottage”. Someday we’d love to have just that, a cottage/home in Donegal, or in nearby Fermanagh. 😉 ]>

The Quaker’s Wife

X:9 is much the same as in Kerr’s Merry Melodies and as in many of the ms transcribed at www.village-music-project.org.uk, some of which have the rhythm of the A part written the same way.

Were these two part tunes likely to have been played as single jigs and is the three-part tune as in X:1 always played as a slide ?

On reflection, so should settings 5 and 6.

Re: Merrily Kissed The Quaker

Similar in structure to Hemp Dressers, Over the Water to Charlie and The Deil’s Awa wi’ the Exciseman. As Wilke’s Riggle, used for a 1777 electioneering song in Bod. John Wilkes,1727-1797 stood as MP for Newcastle. From Bod:
There are several song versions..

The Quaker’s wife sat down to bake, With all her bairns about her.
She made them all a sugar cake, And the miller he wants his mouter
Sugar and spice and all things nice, And all things very good in it,
And then the Quaker sat down to play, A tune upon the spinet.
Merrily danced the Quaker’s wife, And merrily danced the Quaker

Another version from Somerset, mid 1700s
The Quaker’s wife got up to bake, With all her children round her
She gave them each a slice of cake, And there the baker found her
He chased her up and down the town, As fast as he could make her
And merrily danced the Quaker’s wife, And merrily danced the Quaker
The Quaker’s wife came to my door, To borrow a market penny
But I’d been had that way before, And said I hadn’t any.
And oh she sighed and oh she cried, Then went up the street O
But the wind it blew her cloak a-side,
And there was the butcher’s meat O!
My Aunty died a week ago, And left me all her money
A little black hen a pig in a pen, And twenty jars of honey
The hen and pig they danced a jig, And knocked against the door O
The honey it came trickling down, And stuck their feet to the

Versions in print
Rutherford. Choice Collection of 60 Country Dances. London, 1750. Robert Bremner. Collection of Scots Reels, 1757
As Wilke’s Wriggle in Aird vol.1. JB 1779
as So Merrily Danced The Quakers. WC 1770, Ca 1812, MB 1815

Re: Merrily Kissed The Quaker

@ Wanpanfam: your version needs a 2 sharp key signature, as it’s in D Major: you wouldn’t then need to write in the C#s. But it’s missing all the F#s with having no key sig.

And here’s another Robert Burns poem that sometimes uses parts 1 and 2 of the tune (although there is also another minor key tune to which it is sung): The words in brackets are sung by some, omitted by others!

UP IN THE MORNING EARLY Robert Burns

Up in the morning’s no’ for me,
Up in the morning early,
(When) a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m shair it’s winter fairly.

Cauld (blaws) the wind frae East tae West,
The drift is driving sairly,
(Sae) loud and shrill I hear the blast,
I’m shair it’s winter fairly.

Up in the morning’s no’ for me,
Up in the morning early,
When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m shair it’s winter fairly.

The birds sit chitterin’ in the thorn,
A’ day they fare but sparely,
(And) lang’s the nicht frae e’en tae morn
I’m shair it’s winter fairly.

Up in the morning’s no’ for me,
Up in the morning early,
When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m shair it’s winter fairly.