trad
This song was popular in England and North America, but only noted occasionally elsewhere in Britain. It also appeared on a number of broadsides, from about the 1820s onwards, where it was often called Cookey’s Courtship, or Cupboard Love, and the story changes little from version to version.
Spiers & Boden: https://spiersboden.bandcamp.com/track/butter-cheese-all
https://spiersboden.bandcamp.com/track/butter-cheese-all
Well now you’ve called on me to sing, I’ll see what I can do, And when that I have finished it I’ll call on one of you. Well now you’ve called on me to sing I’ll see what I can do, And when that I have finished it, ? I’ll call on one of you. ? Now, the first time I went a-courting, well I’ll tell you the reason why, It was to a jolly old cook because my wants she did supply. She fed me on the best roast beef and plenty of mince pies, And whenever that I was hungry ? My wants she did supply. ? So one day I went to see her and she asked me in to tea, She said, “The missus and master’s out, we’ll have a jolly spree.” So I went into the parlour my own true love to please And into one pocket she’s rammed some butter ? And into the other some cheese. ? Now after supper was over, and I could eat no more, Oh Lord, to my surprise when a knock comes to the door. So I looked around for a place to hide but that I did not know. So it’s up the old chimney I did creep, ? As black as any old crow. ? Now, the fire it being rather warm, it began to scorch my knees, Likewise to melt my butter and likewise to toast my cheese, And every drop dropped in the fire, a terrible place was there. And the master swore as in his poor old house ? That the Devil himself was there. ? So it’s way up on the roof he climbed for to drive old Harry out, He began to pour cold water down what put me to a rout. And it’s down the old chimney I did creep and into the street did crawl, I was forced to ramble as fast as I could ? With my butter and cheese and all. ?