Annotation:Can'st Thou not Weave Bonelace

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CAN'ST THOU NOT WEAVE BONELACE. English, Air (9/8). E Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. "Can'st thou not weave bonelace" was a song in George Lillo's ballad opera Sylvia (1731, p. 86). Bone lace refers to lace worked on bobbins, which are made of bone. It also refers to pillow lace. The song was a popular ballad that was considerably older, for it was the indicated tune for a popular and much printed broadside ballad called "Chastities conquest, or, No trusting before marriage," dating to 1672. The words go, in part.

Canst thou not weave Bonelace,
yea by Lady that I can,
canst thou not lisp with Grace
yea as well as any one,
Canst thou not Card and Spin
yea by Lady that I can
And dothe other thing
wee I'se do what I can
Come then, and be my sweet
To Bed I'l carry thee
No in Geud faith not a bit
Unless you marry me:

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Moffat (Dances of the Olden Time), 1922; p. 13.

Recorded sources:

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