She’d kept them all for me

AKA
First Published 1890
Writer/composer Arthur Lloyd Roud RN30321

Music Hall Performers Arthur Lloyd
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Uncle of Stuart Porter ; N. Ireland : Derry; 1950-69

From R March's Copyright Edition 889 [song book]
Broadside Ballads Online from the Bodlleian  Libraries

The lady I have made my wife was once a sweet young miss,
And I was her third husband when I tasted wedded bliss; 
While courting. I remember well one night a special tea. 
She'd a lovely lot of muffins hot, she'd kept them all for me. 

She'd kept them all for me. 
Not one, or two, or three, 
But a lovely lot of muffins hot, 
She'd kept them all for me. 

She was a buxom widow and her ways they were so sweet; 
Her heart was very tender then, and so were her poor feet; 
This is her second husband's suit; it fits me well, you see; 
The first one's shirts and socks I wear, she'd kept them all for me

She'd kept them all for me. 
Not one, or two, or three, 
But a great big box of shirts and socks, 
She'd kept them all for me..

But she has got a temper though, as this poor fellow knows; 
We often have a flare up, and sometimes it comes to blows;
Last night when I went out we kissed, but when I came back at three,
I'd boots and shoes thrown at my head, she'd kept them all for me. 


She'd kept them all for me. 
Not one, or two, or three, 
But the blessed lot at my head got, 
She'd kept them all for me.

We both went down to Margate to spend our honeymoon.
But our lodgings were so full of fleas we left them very soon; 
Mv landlady said. " Never before had she ever seen a flea;" 
Of course, not— 'twas my usual luck - she'd kept them all for me. 

She'd kept them all for me. 
Not one, or two, or three, 
But great big chaps, with big fat backs, 
She'd kept them all for me.

A song which featured in the repertoire of at least one traditional singer from Derry in the late 2oth century. It was originally from the 1890s – written, composed and sung by Arthur Lloyd as part of a drama Ballyvogan. It may be relevant that Lloyd and his company performed the drama at the Opera House in Derry in 1890.

Londonderry Sentinel – 18 Sep 1890

I cannot currently find any accessible recordings to share.

Sources: