Martin Said To His Man

This page is part of the Ravenscroft Songbook.

Source: Thomas Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia # 16 (1609)

mp3 Real Audio facsimile
mp3, slightly different tune, from www.livinghistory.co.uk

1. Martin said to his man
(fie, man fie!)
Martin said to his man
(who's the fool now?)
Martin said to his man
Fil thou the cup and I the can,
Thou hast well drunken man,
who's the fool now?
Thou hast well drunken man,
who's the fool now?

2. I see a sheep shearing corn,
(fie, man fie!)
I see a sheepe shearing corn,
(who's the fool now?)
I see a sheepe shearing corn,
And a couckold blow his horn,
(Thou hast well drunken man, who's the fool now?)

3. I see a man in the Moone,
Clowting of Saint Peters shoone, [ fixing St. Peter's shoe ]

4. I see a hare chase a hound,
Twenty mile aboue the ground,

5. I see a goose ring a hog.
And a snayle that did bite a dog,

6. I see a mouse catch the cat,
And the cheese to eate the rat,

[ 7. I saw a maid milk a bull,
Every stroke a bucket-full, ]

[ this last verse is not in Ravenscroft, but does appear on Music from the time of Elizabeth I, Christopher Hogwood. Presumably the performers made it up. ]

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Greg Lindahl