> Peter Bellamy > Songs > Firelock Stile
Firelock Stile
[
Roud 1780
; Ballad Index K173
; trad.]
Harry Cox of Catfield, Norfolk, sang the bawdy Firelock Stile to Peter Kennedy in 1953. This recording was released in 1965 on his eponymous EFDSS album Harry Cox and was included in 2000 on the Rounder CD re-issue of Songs of Seduction. Another recording made by Ewan MacColl in 1955 was included on his 2 CD Topic Records anthology, The Bonny Labouring Boy. Steve Roud commented in the latter album's liner notes:
Most earlier collectors would have refused to note such an outspoken bawdy song as this, even if the singers were willing to expose them to such moral danger. As far as we know, therefore, this song is unique to Harry Cox, and we cannot rely on other versions to help us date it. As in a number of other sexual encounter songs, the chap rues the event when he contracts a dose of vereral disease. Twenty bright guineas seems a little extortionate, or perhaps this is simply a ballad-writer's commonplace.
Peter Bellamy learned Firelock Stile from the singing of Harry Cox and sang it in 1975 on his eponymous LP Peter Bellamy. He commented in the album's sleeve notes:
This somewhat less-than-subtle piece of good natured bawdry comes from the repertoire of the great Norfolk traditional singer Harry Cox. It should not be assumed that it is representative of his material as a whole!
Pete Castle sang Firelock Stile on his 2006 CD Poor Old Horse. He noted:
From Harry Cox of Norfolk. A bit of bawdy fun. I used to sing this back in the 1980s.
Lyrics
Harry Cox sings Firelock Stile | Peter Bellamy sings Firelock Stile |
---|---|
So come all young men, come listen awhile, |
Well, come all young men and listen awhile, |
A gay young buck was standing by. |
Now a gay young buck he was standing close by |
She said, “Young man, if you mean what you say, |
But she said, “Young man, if you mean what you say |
That very soon he gave consent, |
Well, very quick he gave consent |
Now six weeks being over, as I have been told, |
But six weeks being over, as I have heard tell, |
Now, all young men, come listen awhile, |