To carry out a simple search, type the term that you want to find in the Search box next to the Advanced Search tab, and press enter.
For a more refined search of songs or tunes use the Advanced search function. To carry out a search on two or more terms at once, e.g. Collector+Roud Number, select each term as above and then click search.
Be sure to clear previous searches before starting a new one by clicking on the x next to each search term at the top.
This rather curious song has only been collected 3 times, and only one of those in complete form. Mr Corbett’s version is rather garbled and incomplete, as is a Somerset version, also collected by Sharp. The story is redeemed a full text collected by Baring Gould from Matthew Ford of Menheniot, Cornwall.
The phrase “deceived in Toby” is obscure but the few historical references that we have suggest that it refers to someone of menial appearance proving himself to be better than others. In this song, he shines at wrestling, fighting, seamanship and card-sharping.
It is suspected that words such as “shroby” and “toasy” are made up to fit the rhyme.
Notes by Gwilym Davies 5 July 2015