Jemima Brown

AKAThe Queen of the Sewing Machine
Naughty Jemima Brown
First published1863
Lyrics Harry CliftonMusicHarry CliftonRoudRN1776
Music Hall performersHarry Clifton
Folk performancesSource Singers
W Wagstaff, 1950s, Beds, England
Walter Pardon, 1979, Norfolk, England
George Inglis Fraser, 1959, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Gordon Hall, 1992, Sussex, England
From undated Sheet Music published in Philadelphia c1865

Jemima Brown, or, The Queen of a Sewing Machine.

'Twas at the railway station, 
Upon the Brighton Line,
I first met my Jemima, 
Why should I call her mine?
Her hair was light, her eyes were bright,
Her dress a morning gown,
A travelling box stood by her side, 
Upon it Jemmima Brown.

I used to take her ev'rywhere, 
To all the sights in town,
And then she left me in despair, 
Did naughty Jemmima Brown.

At a baby linen builder's 
In the Burlington Arcade,
I next saw Miss Jemima 
As by the shops I strayed,
She looked the queen of her sewing machine, 
I spent many a crown,
In collars and straps and babies' caps 
To gaze on Jemima Brown.

I sought an introduction, 
Obtained it all was right,
At eight o'clock I'd meet her 
And walk home ev'ry night,
To seal our love I bought her gloves, 
To Cremorne we went down,
Took tea and shrimps, drank bitter beer 
And waltzed with Jemima Brown.

I flew one night to meet her, 
The weather yet was warm,
I saw her fondly leaning
On a smart young fellow's arm.
Against my will, I felt quite ill, 
Inquiring with a frown,
Who's that? "It's only brother Bill", 
Said naughty Jemima Brown.

"I want to ask a favour, 
I hope you won't be cross,
Or think it bad behaviour, 
But father had a loss,
Would you kindly lend us fifty pounds, 
My brother, he'll be bound"
Oh course I would, could I refuse 
My life to Jemima Brown.

From that very day I missed her, 
Tho' she said she'd be my bride,
From Kennington to Chester, 
I sought her far and wide.
Years after that, when passing by 
A shop in Camden Town,
'Midst heaps of greens and kidney beans, 
There stood Jemmima Brown.

She was weighing out potatoes, 
Throwing coppers in the till,
Three lovely children by her side, 
The image of brother Bill,
Her broken vow, I see it now, 
But not my fifty pounds,
That shop was BOUGHT and I was SOLD 
By naughty Jemmima Brown.

A Harry Clifton song first published in 1863 – this notice in the Illustrated London News is the earliest record I have of publication:

Illustrated London News -31 October 1863

The sheet music shown here is an undated American edition published in Philadelphia.

Another Clifton song in which an aspiring white-collar working man suffers at the hands of a smart woman there are several! The song appeared regularly in British broadsides and songbooks of the late 19th century. Some broadsides feature other locations and it’s likely that Clifton would change the names of places according to where the song was being performed.

Famously sung by Walter Pardon in the 1970s, but also in the repertoire of several other late 20th century traditional singers.

A version sung for Kenneth Goldstein by George Inglis Fraser is available from the excellent Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches site.

Sources:

Last Updated on August 15, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: May 7, 2020

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