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The London Prentice

from Without a Chaperone by Reesha Dyer

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A street ballad I have been singing for a long time. It's tricksy and fun and I love it. The original had more verses, but the cuts I have made keep the essence of the tale.

Translation of the slang:
the-bow-bells= euphemism for sex.
play-house=brothel

lyrics

It’s of a London ‘Prentice to a merchant he was bound,
He had the crossest mistress that ever could be found,
She oft times to the play-house goes her wanton tricks to try,
Jack thought to himself to trick her one night with her to lie,

He hired a suit of clothing, called rich or fine,
For to trick his mistress it was his hearts design,
All with his knotted wig, his sword beside and all,
He goes down to the tavern and for a miss did call,

Three pictures there were brought to jack all for to choose his miss,
“Here is my own dear mistress” think’s jack I will have this,
His mistress was sent along, so impudent and bold,
She sat down by her prentice, not him did she behold,

She’d not been there a little while when bow bells began to ring,
She clasped his hand and said “Oh is this not a pleasant thing?
Oh is this not a pleasant thing, for now the bow bells go,
I love to hear them tolling and so do you I know”

Now time being passed over, jack hastened home with speed,
To take his suit of clothing to the right owner indeed,
He’d not been home a little while when his mistress came in,
But little did she think of where her jack and she had been,

She’d not been home a little while, she began to storm and scold,
She fixed Jack Parsons by the ears, he cried “Hold my mistress hold”
Hold hold your tongue don’t scold no more, for now the Bow bells go,
I love to hear them tolling, and so do you I know,

“Oh fie, you naughty Jack, how could you, how could you trick me so,
I would not for five thousand pounds your master he should know,
If you will your counsel keep, and never tell at all,
You shall have money whenever you please and I'll be at your call,

credits

from Without a Chaperone, released March 7, 2015

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Reesha Dyer London, UK

Hello! I'm Reesha, I sing songs and accompany them on the guitar with dubious proficiency. Some of them are funny, some of them are depressing. It's a magical mood lottery!

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