Cutting toe-nails on a Sunday

AKANever cut your toe nails on a Sunday
Mr Lowe and Miss Cundy
First Published1824

Writer/composerThomas Hudson / unknownRoudRN21207

Music Hall PerformersThomas Hudson
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
West, James; c1915; England; Gloucestershire
From Thomas Hudson's 6th Collection of Comic Songs (1824)
TUNE- Michael Wiggins

A spruce linen draper, one Mr John Lowe,
Walk'd out in Hyde Park one Sunday,
His dress was the pink of the fashion and go,
When he met with the charming Miss Cundy;
Her beautiful eyes took him quite by surprise,
So queer was the state that he felt in,
He tried all in vain for to tell her his pain,
For his heart was really a-meltin'.

But alas! Who can look into fate's book of laws?
Mr Lowe would have married Miss Cundy:
He lost her, he lost her; and only because,
He cut his toe nails on a Sunday.

The next time he met her, his love he made known,
Her person he thought all perfection,
He pressed her with speed to be bone of his bone,
She blushed and - had no objection;
He gaily did sing, went and purchased the ring,
And the next Sunday was the bespeak day,
For that day would chime and agree with his time,
Much better than having a week-day.

On the blest Sunday morning he got up with glee,
(Little thinking that mischief was hatching)
Took out his penknife, his toes to make free,
At night to prevent them from scratching;
But the knife slipped and gave his great toe such a wound,
(Sweet wedlock there surely a fate in;)
He could not put his foot at all to the ground,
Though he knew sweet Miss Cundy was waitin'.

Oh, words can't describe all his trouble and woe,
Only think if his sad situation,
A surgeon was sent for, who dressed his great toe,
And talk'd about amputation;
Laid up for a month, while Miss Cundy so smart,
Disappointed at having this short knight,
Without delay got her another sweetheart,
And was married in less than a fortnight.

So young men, if love has got into your head,
Recollect Mr Lowe and Miss Cundy,
And whatever you do, before you get wed,
Never cut your toe nails on a Sunday. 

A song based around the old suspicion that cutting your nails on a Sunday is a bad thing…

It was written and performed by Thomas Hudson (1791- 1844) a song-writer and performer active in the singing taverns and supper rooms that influenced the early Music Hall in London. He was in many ways a transitional figure – his songs reflected both elements of 18th century song and the future style of comic song that dominated the Halls (like this one). [There will be more on this on the Thomas Hudson page].

Like many of Hudson’s songs this one survives in multiple 19th century broadsheets and songbooks, but it appears more often under the title Mr Lowe and Miss Cundy.

Several of his songs were remembered by traditional singers whose songs were picked up by folk song collectors in the late 19th and early 20th century. This song was collected by Alfred Williams from the singing of James West, and published in the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard in summer 1916. The song was originally written to be sung to a tune called Michael Wiggins which I believe is the same as the jig Michael Wiggins in Ireland.

Alfred Williams noted:

 ‘This quaint and amusing song is to be met with very rarely, however – in Gloucestershire – I have not heard it south of the Thames. It used to be sung at least every year at the parish gathering at Quenington, by a woman of the village, usually in response to the request of the old vicar, who was especially delighted with it. I have also quite recently heard the song mentioned at Ewen, near Cirencester. The copy was very kindly supplied me by James West, Quenington.’

Alfred Williams, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard, 1 July 1916

A rough and ready version by yours truly

Cutting toenails on a Sunday, John Baxter

Sources:

Last Updated on March 9, 2021 by John Baxter | Published: February 16, 2021

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