179
The Old Dyer
Also known as 'The Dog in the Closet.' For it origin and his-
tory, see Barry's note on the Vermont version, NGMS 125. Morris
reports a quite different version from Florida, FSF 371-2.
OLDER BALLADS — MOSTLY BRITISH 445
The Old Dyer.' Contributed by Miss Laura Matthews, Durham (later
Mrs. E. J. Stephenson). The two halves of the fourth stanza seem to
have been transposed.
1 There was an old dyer who had a young wife.
They lived together a quarrelsome life.
Old dyer got mad. and 'twas not without cause ;
It was the young hatter who pled the great pause.^
Toodle li day, li toodle li doodle
Li doodle li doodle li doodle li day.
2 Old dyer came home with his neighbor that night.
He swore by the way he'd show them a sight,
He'd show them a sight, he swore by the way,
He'd kept him locked up in the cupboard all day,
3 And this young wife got in a sad pout.
She tried almost every key in the house ;
At last she found one that would unlock the door.
She gave the young hatter his freedom once more.
4 Old dyer stepped up, so bold and so stout ;
He opened the door and the doggie jumped out.
To save her own credit and hide her disgrace
She locked the great master dog up in his place.
5 Says this young wife, 'You've pled a great strife.
You've pled a great strife on your loving wife.
If you'll do so no more I'll pardon you for this.*
And the old fool embraced her with a sweet kiss.
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179
The Old Dyer
'The Old Dyer.' Sung by Miss Laura Mathews. Recorded as ms score at
Durham ; no date given. The nonsense syllables of the refrain are somewhat
different from those given in the printed text, II 445.
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abcdee^e^ (2,2,2,2,
1,1,2) = abc (4,4,4)-