The Taylor in the Chest

from Green Are The Woods by Helena Triplett Faust and Jimmy Triplett

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The Tailor in the Chest

I learned this song from Phyllis Marks in Glenville, and it always brings a chuckle when she sings it. The same version almost word for word, is printed in "West Virginia Song Bag", collected from a man in Glenville in 1925. Apparently the song was brought into Glenville by a horse trader sometime before 1918. I have heard different versions of this song,; in one the woman out smarts her husband by replacing the tailor with a big dog. My 9 year old friend, Shae, said, "she should of told him, you wait down here while I go up and get the chest!" I reckon so.

lyrics

The Tailor in the Chest

There was a wealthy merchant in Charleston he did dwell
he had a pretty woman and the tailor loved her well
sing a routy trouty trouty sing a routy trouty tray

She met him on the pathway and unto him did say
my husband is at sea you can come and stay with me
sing a routy trouty trouty sing a routy trouty tray

They hadn't been in bed but an hour or more
when home came her husband a pecking at the door
sing a routy trouty trouty sing a routy trouty tray

Up jumped the tailor from his sleep
he said pretty Lady oh where shall I creep
sing a routy trouty trouty sing a routy trouty tray

There is a chest by my bedside
and in that chest you can safely hide
sing a routy trouty trouty sing a routy trouty tray

He jumped in the chest as sly as a deer
he said pretty lady I' ve nothing to fear
sing a routy trouty trouty sing a routy trouty tray

She went downstairs and opened up the door
and there stood her husband and several others more
sing a routy trouty trouty sing a routy trouty tray

credits

from Green Are The Woods, released June 13, 1999
Learned from Phyllis Marks, Glenville, WV during a ballad apprenticeship in about 1999

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Helena Triplett Faust Wellington, New Zealand

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