Revision as of 04:33, 1 October 2016 by Andrew(talk | contribs)(Created page with "=='''Back to [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}]]'''== ---- <p><font face="garamond, serif" size="4"> '''GAFFER GRAY.''' English, Scottish; Air (6/8 time). D Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle)....")
GAFFER GRAY. English, Scottish; Air (6/8 time). D Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. Gaffer Gray: or, The misfortunes of poverty, a Christmas ditty, very fit to be chanted at Whitsuntide is a picture book for children. It is based on a poem by Thomas Holcroft, that berates the well-to-do for their lack of charity while at the same time depicting the misfortunes of old age and poverty. The first two stanza's go:
“HO! why dost thou shiver and shake,” Gaffer Gray, And why doth thy nose look so blue?” ——“'Tis the weather that's cold, ——'Tis I'm grown very old, And my doublet is not very new, Well-a-day!”
“Then line that warm doublet with ale, Gaffer Gray, And warm thy old heart with a glass.” ——“Nay, but credit I've none, ——And my money's all gone; Then say how may that come to pass? Well-a-day!”
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Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Aird (Sixth and Last Volume of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs), 1803; No. 94, p. 36.
