Maid of Tottenham

As I walked down from Tottenham
Upon a market day
"Twas there I spied a bonnie lass
Her clothing was so gay
Her journey was to London
With buttermilk and whey
So we both jogged on together my boys
Sing fal the dal diddle al day.

"God speed, fair maid," says I to her
"You are well overtook."
At that she cast her head aside
And gave to me a look
That was as full of lechery
As letters in a book
So we both jogged on together my boys
Sing fal the dal diddle al day.

And as we walked along the road
Together side by side
This pretty maid of Tottenham
Her garter came untied
For fear that she might lose it
"Look out sweetheart," I cried
"Your garter's coming down my love."
Sing fal the dal diddle al day.

"O now you've been so venturesome
So venturesome and free
O now you've been so venturesome
Will you tie it up for me?"
"O yes, O yes, if you'll come
To the undergrove with me."
So we both jogged on together my boys
Sing fal the dal diddle al day.

I took her to the undergrove
Among the grass so green
The fair maid spread her legs so wide
That I fell in between
Such tying of a garter
You have but seldom seen
And we both jogged on together my boys
Sing fal the dal diddle al day.

"O now you've had your will of me
Pray tell to me your name
Likewise your occupation
From where and whence you came"
"My name is Johnny the Rover
From Dublin town I came
And I live alongside of the Ups and Downs"
Sing fal the dal diddle al day.

So when she came to Tottenham
Her butter was not sold
By losing of her maidenhead
Which made her blood run cold
He's gone he's gone he's gone
He's not the lad for me
For he lives alongside of the Ups and Downs
Sing fal the dal diddle al day.

from Sedley The Seeds of Love
Text collated from Pills to Purge Melancholy, Merry Drollery
(1661) and Choyce Drollery (1656)
Tune: Abroad as I was walking (associated with Lowlands of
Holland)
SOF