Ding dong

First Published 1824
Writer/composer Thomas Hudson / unknown Roud RN22833

Music Hall Performers Thomas Hudson
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
unknown, England, Warwickshire, 1892		 

From Thomas Hudson's 5th Collection of Comic Songs (1824)

WHEN Dolly first I went to woo,
I felt so strong love's flame,
I meant to say, I loved her true,
But could not speak for shame.
And as I glances sly did steal,
My heart was beating strong;
The village bells struck up a peal,
Which sounded sweet ding ! dong !"

Ding, dong, &c. &c.

Three months in courtship passed away,
When I got her consent
To marry,--and I named the day,
And then to church we went;
So blest as then I ne'er did feel
As round our friends did throng,
We heard again the village peal,
Ring forth their sweet "ding ! dong!"

What people call the Honey Moon,
Had scarcely pass'd-oh dear!
A very different sort of tune
Came jingling in my ear.
Each morning, noon, and night did bring
A peal so loud and strong,
And sure as ever I said, “Ding!”
She always answer'd, “Dong!"

This discord lasted many a day,
But now we (wiser grown)
Have bit upon a better way,
And quarrels are not known.
We found out jarring was absurd,
With married folks quite wrong ;
And now we bless the day we heard
The village bells "ding, dong."

A song originally 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.  Hudson published his own songs – this one appeared in his fifth collection, published in 1824. I have not been able to find it published in any other broadsides or songbooks.

Around 70 years later, F Scarlett Potter collected the words and music from the singing of an “elderly” person in Shipton-on-Stour, Warwickshire. He sent the song to Lucy Broadwood, and their correspondence can be found in the Vaughan Williams Memorial library. It doesn’t appear to have been republished in any collection of folksongs so it may well have been recognised as a song with Music Hall origins.

Sources: