> A.L. Lloyd > Songs > With Me Pit Boots On

With Me Pit Boots On

[ Roud 516 ; Ballad Index RcWMPBO ; trad.]

A.L. Lloyd recorded With Me Pit Boots On in 1966 for his album The Best of A.L. Lloyd, accompanied by Alf Edwards on concertina. Lloyd wrote in the album's sleeve notes:

There's a widespread humorous song about a young man who visits his girl at evening with a billycock on, a cattle-smock on, a leather apron on. The song gets its laugh because whatever happens, the hero never removes the badge of his standing of trade. Northern industrial workers know the song as well as southern farm folk. This is a Durham miners' version.

Lyrics

A.L. Lloyd sings With Me Pit Boots On

A-diggin' and a-pickin' as I was one day,
The thought of my true love had led me astray.
Well, the shift being over and the night coming on,
And away I ran with me pit boots on.

I tapped at my love's window, crying, “Are you in bed?”
The minute that she heard me she lifted up her head,
She lifted up her head, crying, “Oh is that John?”
“Indeed it's me with me pit boots on.”

She come to the door and invited me in,
“Draw off to the fire and warm your skin.”
The bedroom door it opened and the blanket it turned down
And I rolled into bed with me pit boots on.

We tossed and we tumbled until the break of day
Not thinking of the hours that we had passed away.
Till my love she sat up, crying, “Oh what have I done!
The baby will come with his pit boots on.”

I chastised my love for talking so wild,
“You silly young girl, you will never have a child,
For all that I've done it was just a bit of fun,”"
But away I ran with me pit boots on.

Come all ye young gals wherever that you be,
Beware of them colliers who are single and free.
For their hearts do run light and their minds do run young,
So look out for the fellows with the pit boots on.

Acknowledgements

Lyrics copied from the Digital Tradition at the Mudcat Café and adapted to the actual singing of A.L. Lloyd by Reinhard Zierke.