Singing the Travels
Maddy Prior & June Tabor
from the "Silly Sisters" Album
First heard sung by Tony Foxworthy
by the Symondsbury Mummers
 
Well met my brother dear all along the highway riding
so solemn I was walking along
So pray come tell to me what calling yours may be
and I'll have you for a servant man.
 
Some serving men do eat the very best of meat
such as cock, goose, capon and swan
and when lords and ladies dine they drink
strong beer, ale & wine
That's some diet for a servant man.
 
Don't you talk about your capens
Let's have some rusty bacon
and I a good peice of pickled pork
that's always in my house a crust of bread and cheese
That's some diet for a husband man.
 
When next to church they go
with their livery fine and gay
and their cocked hats and gold lace all around
with their shirts as white as milk and stitched as fine as silk
That's some habbit for a servant man.
 
Don't you talk about your livery
nor all your silken garmonts
That's not fit for to travel the bushes in.
Give me a leather coat and aye, in my purse a grote
That's some habbit for a husband man.
 
So we needs must confess that your calling is the best
and we will give you the uppermost hand
so now we won't delay but pray both night and day
god bless the honest husband man.