Susan Johns of Austin, Texas, to Cray, 6/22/96, as sung in SCA and Renaissance Fair circles: Lusty Young Smith (This is the version common in Ansteorra.) A lusty young smith at his vice stood a-filing. His hammer lay by but his forge still a-glowed. When to him a buxom young damsel came smiling, And asked if to work, in her forge, he would go. CHORUS |-----------------------------------------------------| | With a jingle bang jingle bang jingle bang jingle. | | With a jingle bang jingle bang jingle high ho. | |-----------------------------------------------------| I will, said the smith, and they went off together, Unto the young damsel's forge they did go. They stripped to go to it, 'twas hot work and hot weather. She kindled the fire and she soon made him glow. CHORUS Her husband, she said, no good work could afford her. His strength and his tools were worn out long ago. The smith said, Well, mine are in very good order, And I am now ready my skill for to show. CHORUS Red hot grew his iron, as both did desire, And he was too wise not to strike while 'twas so. She said, What I get I get out of the fire, So prithee, strike home and redouble the blow. CHORUS Six times did his iron, by vigorous heating, Grow soft in her forge in a minute or so, And ere it were hard and yet heating and beating, But the more it were soft, it did harden more slow. CHORUS The smith then would go, left the maid full of sorrow. Oh, what would I give could my husband do so. Good lad with your hammer come hither tomorrow, And pray won't you use it once more ere you go! CHORUS Page 16 SONG Lusty Young Smith This version I found in "Bawdy Verse, A Pleasant Collection." (ante 1700.) A lusty young smith at his vice stood a-filing. Rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub in and out, in and out ho! When to him a buxom young damsel came smiling, And asked if to work at her forge, he would go. With a rub rub rub rub rub, rub in and out In and out, ho! "A match" quoth the Smith, so they went away thither. Rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub in and out, in and out ho! They stripped to go to it, 'twas hot Work and hot Weather. She kindled a Fire and soon made him blow. With a rub rub rub rub rub, rub in and out In and out, ho! Her husband, she said, could scarce raise up his Hammer, His strength and his Tools were worn out long ago. If she got her Journeymen, could any blame her? "Look here!" quoth our Workman, "my Tools are not so." With a rub rub rub rub rub, rub in and out In and out, ho! Red-hot grew his Iron, as both did desire, And he was too wise not to strike while 'twas so. Quoth she "What I get, I get out of the Fire, So prithee strike Home and redouble the blow!" With a rub rub rub rub rub, rub in and out In and out, ho! Six times, did his Iron, by vigorous heating Grow soft in the Forge in a minute or so; As often 'twas hardened, still beating and beating, But the more it was softened, it hardened more slow. With a rub rub rub rub rub, rub in and out In and out, ho! The Smith would then go. Quoth the Dame, full of sorrow "O! What would I give could my Cuckold do so! Good Lad, with your Hammer, come hither tomorrow; But pray! can't you use it once more ere you go?" With a rub rub rub rub rub, rub in and out In and out, ho!