If I can add to what Bruce Olson has already said, Georges-Denis
Zimmermann's Songs of Irish Rebellion states that it was written in 1830 by
Jeremiah Ryan ('Darby Ryan') satirising the new police force 'introduced
into Ireland by Sir Robert Peel', and was extremely popular throughout
Ireland.
The original text had Bansha as the dwelling place, and there is clearly no
connection with Co. Durham in the song's known history. The question
therefore remains, where did the quoted text come from, because presumably
someone either mis-heard Bansha, or perhaps deliberately changed it to
Penshaw to localise the song.
Steve Roud


----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce Olson <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 6:49 PM


> dave wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> > i am trying to find some extra material regarding the song 'The Peeler
> > and the Goat' (included below). i am particularly interested to find
> > out if the 'Penshaw' mentioned in the song is in anyway connected to
> > Penshaw, and/or Penshaw Monument just outside of Chester-le-Street, in
> > County Durham. If anybody can help i would be grateful.
> > Thank you
> > dave.
> >
> > THE PEELER AND THE GOAT
> >
> > Oh, the Penshaw peeler went one night
> > On duty and patrolling
> > He spied a goat upon the road
> > And took him for a-strolling
> >
> > Bayonet fixed, he sallied forth
> > And he caught him by the wizzen
> > There swore out a mighty oath
> > He's send him off to prison
> >
> > Have mercy, sir, the goat replied
> > And let me tell my story
> > I am no rogue, no ribbon man
> > No cockey, Whig, or Tory
> >
> > I'm innocent of any crime,
> > Of petty or high treason
> > For my tribe is active at this time
> > It is the mating season.
> >
> > "Do not complain," the peeler said
> > But give your tongue a bridle
> > You're absent from your dwelling place,
> > Disorderly, and idle
> >
> > Your hoary locks will not prevail
> > Nor your sublime oration
> > For the penal laws will you transport
> > On your own information
> >
> > No penal laws have I transgressed
> > By deed or combination
> > It's true I have no place of rest,
> > No home, or habitation
> >
> > But Penshaw is my dwelling place
> > Where I was bread and borne-o
> > I'm of an honest working race
> > That's all the trade I've learned-o
> >
> > I wager, sir, that you are drunk
> > On whiskey, rum, and brandy
> > Or you wouldn't have such gallant spunk
> > To be so bold and manly
> >
> > You readily would let me pass
> > If I had money handy
> > I'd take you to the parting glass
> > Its then I'd be the dandy
> >
> > Recorded on "Borderlands"
> > @animal
>
> Yout text seems to be a version of the original, #1458 in Steve Roud's
> folksong index. Roud lists broadside copies in the Madden collection and
> another, with no publisher's imprint, can be found by searching for
> 'peeler' on the Bodley Ballads website.  Frank Kidson in JFSS #9, 1906,
> said the words dated from 1836.
>
> Bruce Olson
> --
> Old English, Irish and, Scots: popular songs, tunes, broadside
> ballads at my website (no advs-spam, etc)- www.erols.com/olsonw
> or click below  <A href="http://www.erols.com/olsonw"> Click </a>