Dame Durden

Sung by Bob and John Copper on the Song for Every Season LP (1971) and on the Coppersongs 3 CD (1998), and by the Young Coppers on their Passing Out CD. Words and music are in both The Copper Family Song Book and Bob Copper's book A Song for Every Season.

Dame Durden kept five servant maids to carry the milking pail
She also kept five labouring men to use the spade and flail.

'Twas Moll and Bet and Doll and Kit and Dolly to drag her tail
It was Tom and Dick and Joe and Jack and Humphrey with his flail.
Then Tom kissed Molly and Dick kissed Betty
And Joe kissed Dolly and Jack kissed Kitty
And Humphrey with his flail
And Kitty she was the charming girl to carry the milking pail.

Dame Durden in the morn so soon she did begin to call
To rouse her servants maids and men she did begin to bawl.

'Twas Moll and Bet etc.

'Twas on the morn of Valentine when birds began to prate
Dame Durden and her maids and men they altogether meet.

'Twas Moll and Bet etc.