Simon Furey wrote:
>
> Tamsin,
> As I'm sure you know, this is clearly a member of the "Tobacco is an Indian
> Weed" family, which has loads of references in the Roud Index as no. 1457.
> The earliest I can find is Thomas d'Urfey's "Pills to Purge Melancholy",
> vol. 3, pp.291-292, published 1719-1720. I wouldn't be surprised if the song
> goes back to the previous (17th) century, but I don't know about the 16th.
> Hope this helps.
> Simon
According to Claude M. Simpson, 'The British Broadside Ballad and Its
Music, p. 709, this appeared as an epigram in Thomas Jenner's 'The
Soules Solace', 1626.
Bruce Olson
Roots of Folk: Old British Isles popular and folk songs, tunes,
broadside ballads at my website <A
href="http://www.erols.com/olsonw"> Click </a>
|