1 note

1 note

1 note

"I had no shirt on to cover my thighs":- The general opinion among fashion historians is that before 1850 men used the long tails of their shirts in the role of underpants. This was almost certainly the case when Roud 3457, from which this song is derived - was written.

1 note

Annie Adams was not noted for her good looks and the cover of the song sheet in the British Library is a fair portrait of her. Johnny the Engine Driver was one of her most popular songs
[Ref: Baker, R.A.; British Music Hall, an Illustrated History, pp 86-87]

The driver's uniform is probably rendered truthfully.
Although it is a light-hearted piece, it conforms to the heroic view of the engine driver prevailing at the time.

1 note

"At what is called the Trumpet Inn":- The Old Trumpet Inn is in Bridgwater Street, not far from Knott Mill and on route back to Store Street. [Pubs of Manchester http://pubs-of-manchester.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=trumpet]
1 note

"The living wonders are inside. There wax-works figures catch the eye":- The waxwork display together with the freak show was perhaps the most continually popular travelling type of exhibition in the nineteenth century. The shows worked on the principal of exhibiting celebrities, items of anatomical interest and, of course, the chamber of horrors [Ref: National Fairground and Circus Archive https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/waxworkandtableauxvivants]
1 note

"Now twirl about was all the go, My pockets filled to overflow, My luck was good I won each time" :- It seems that "twirl about" was a game of some sort seemingly played with nuts.
  1. [Note 668.10]
  2. [Note 668.1]
  3. [Note 668.2]
  4. [Note 668.3]

Page 36 of 128

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.