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Black Joke 
Black Joke 
(The Original black Joke, sent from Dublin) 
No mortal sure can blame ye man, Who prompted by Nature will act as he can
 Wth a black joke, and belly so white: For he ye Platonist must gain say, that will not Human Nature obey,
 in working a joke, as will lather like soap, and ye hair of her joke, will draw more yn a rope, with a black joke, and belly so white. 
The first that came in was an English boy, and then he began for to play and toy,
 With her black etc.. He was well vers'd in Venus's School, Went on like a Lyon came off like a fool,
 From her coal black etc. 
Then Shonup a Morgan from Holly-head Was stark staring mad to go to bed,
 To her black etc. His cruper her saddle did not fit, So out of door she did him hit;
 With her Coal black etc.. 
Then hastily came in a Hilland man, His chanter and pipe both in his hand,
 To her black etc. But his main spring it was not strong For he could only flash in the pan
 Of her Coal black etc. 
A Frenchman oh yh wth ruffles and wig With her he began for to dance a Jig
 With her black etc. and wn he felt wt was under her smock, Begar said Mounsier 'tis a fine Merimot With a Coal black etc.. 
A rich Dutch skiper from Amsterdam He came wth his gilt ready in hand, 
 To her black etc. He fancy'd himself very fit for ye game, She sent him to Holland all in a flame,
 By her Coal black etc. 
The good Irish Man he cou'd not forbear But yt he must have a very good share,
 Of her black etc. Madam said he for money I have none. But I'll play a tune on ye jiging bone
 Of your Coal black etc. 
Then next came in a brave Granadeer, and calls in for plenty of Ale and beer,
 For her black etc. The cuning sly Jade show'd him a trick and sent him away wth fire in his stick
 From her Coal black etc.. 
Traverse ye Globe and you'l find none, Who is nott addicted and very much prone,
 To a black etc. The Prince, ye Priest, ye Peasant do love it, and all degrees of Mankind do covet
 A Coal black etc. 
The rigid recluse wth his meager face, From fasting and prayer wd quickly cease,
 For a black etc. Let ye Clergy Cant and say wt they will They stop ye mouth and tickle the Gill
 Of a Coal black etc. 
The Bishop in his Pontifical Gown, Wou'd tumble another Susanna down,
 For her black etc. The Lawyer his Clients cause wd quit To dip his pen in ye bottomless Pit
 Of a Coal black etc.
 Text and tune here are from a single sheet song with music, c 1730. There are at least three copies of this yet extant. 'Joke' is also later given as 'Joak' and 'Jock.' This is quite possibly the earliest Irish popular song to be printed with it own tune, but tune "Captain "Mckean" is earlier and from MS copy of c 1745, song is quite as bawdy. The first verse and last three of our song here appear without music in <<The London Miscellany>>, 1730, as "A New Song, to the tune of Black-Joak the words by the R---d Mr. S---th, Chaplain to a Man-of War." The fact this this 
collection announced itself to be scarce pieces and the word "Original" in our song title here implies that song was circulating about London inspiring imitations of both text and tune, before it was printed there. The earliest known datable copy of the tune is in Charles Coffey's ballad opera <<The Begger's Wedding>>, 4th ed., Act I, Air No.10, 1729, where it is entitled "Coal Black Jo also printed the music, call it simply "Black Joke," or "Black Joak". Our song here seems to have nearly established a new industry in London producing immitations of it.
 About 1730 John Walsh published <<The Third Book of the most celebrated jiggs, ... etc>>, containing the tunes 'the Black Joak, the White Joak, the Brown, the Red and the Yellow Joaks.' Coffey's song from <<The Begger's Wedding>> was also published in at least two different editions as a single sheet song with music entitled "The coal black Joke." Yet another single sheet song entitled "The Coal Black Joke," commencing "There was a Lady come from France," is a short English immitation inspired by the one given here. The latter is in a manucript entiled "Black Jake," and the same manuscript contains yet another "The cole Black Joak." These are appendend at the end.
 "White Joke" appeared in <<Robin Hood>>, Air No. 14, 1730, and both of these tunes appeared in <<The Lottery>>, 1732. Song, "The White Joak" commencing "Thrice happy Lizzy, bl Second and Last', p. 1, 1734.
 James Oswald in <<The Caledonian Pocket Companion>>, Book 7, pp. 18-19, c 1756, included a "Burlesque on Black Joak." He turned "Black Joke" into a Scots tune about a year later by scoring it in 3/4 time and titling it "Black Jock" in <<A Collection of Scots Tunes>>. The tune continued to be published occasionally in dance music collections throughout the 18th century, and was well known even in America. 
Imitations: 
"The Black Jack," NLS MS 6299, c 1745 [This has what is here two more short verses than a single sheet issue with music, "The Coal black Joke," which is given as 4 long verses. The corresponding verses of this are on the right behind ]. WBO 
WBO Apr98