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the Ins-and-Outs, the Side-to-Sides and the Backwards-and-Forwards
Terry Pratchett: Monstrous Regiment

The Aylesbury Girl / As I Strolled Out to Aylesbury / The Ups and Downs

[ Roud 364 ; Ballad Index K176 ; trad.]

The Ups and Downs was a nick-name, or possibly an euphemism, for the sixty-ninth foot regiment, a Welsh regiment which was regarded as a humorous anomaly because their ranks consisted largely of raw recruits and elderly veterans.

Bob Hart sang As I Strolled Out to Aylesbury in his home in Snape, Suffolk in July 1972. This recording by Tony Engle was releases in 1972 on his Topic record Songs from Suffolk. An earlier recording also from his home was recorded on July 8, 1969 by Rod and Danny Stradling and included in 2007 on his Musical Traditions anthology A Broadside.

Jack Goodman of St Margarets-at-Cliffe sang The Aylesbury Girl in a recording made by Mike Yates in between 1972 and 1975 on the Topic album Green Grow the Laurels: Country Singers from the South. Mike Yates commented in the album's notes:

The Aylesbury Girl has been plying her wares for at least 250 years, certainly since Tom D' Urfey printed it in 1720 under the title The Tottingham Frolick. Recently James Reeves suggested that “the sign of the Ups and Downs” represented the 69th Foot Regiment ans so “Johnny the Rover” was, at one time, a soldier. A long-shot perhaps, bur an interesting one nevertheless.

Steeleye Span sang The Ups and Downs in 1973 on their album Parcel of Rogues. A live recording from The Forum, London on September 2, 1995 was released on their 25th anniversary concert CD, The Journey.

Lyrics

Jack Goodman sings The Aylesbury Girl

As I was going to Aylesbury Town 'twas on a market day,
I fell in love with an Aylesbury maid and by luck was going my way;
Her business being to market with butter, eggs and wine
So we both jogged on together, my boy, wack-for-the-ar-riddle-i-ay.

Now as we were going along the road, this lassie by my side,
When looking down I noticed that her garter'd became untied.
And before she'd time to notice it I unto her did say:
“Oh your garter is untied, my dear,” wack-for-the-ar-riddle-i-ay.

“Well,” said she, “You being so adventuresome, so anxious and so free,
But won't you be so kind, young man, as to tie it up for me?”
“Oh yes, oh yes, that I will do if you'll come to yon shady grove with me.”
So we both walked on together, my boy, wack-for-the-ar-riddle-i-ay.

Now when we reached yon shady grove, the grass being very high,
I gently sat the maiden down, oh, her garter for to tie.
And while tieing up of her garter such sights you never did see,
Oh, “For John,” said she, “I thought I'd see the world go round and round.”

Now as we were coming from market, the eggs and win she'd sold,
And passing by that very same spot, well, it made my blood run cold,
For my name is Johnny the Rover and from Dublin Town I came,
And I live all alone by the Ups-and-Downs, wack-for-the-ar-riddle-i-ay.

Steeleye Span sing The Ups and Downs

As I was going to Aylesbury all on a market day,
A pretty little Aylesbury girl I met upon the way.
Her business was to market with butter, cheese and whey
𝄆 And we both jogged on together, my boys, fol-der-o diddle-o-day. 𝄇

As we jogged on together, my boys, together side by side,
By chance this fair maid's garter, by chance it came untied.
For fear that she might lose it, I unto her did say,
𝄆 “Oh, your garter's come untied, my love, fol-der-o diddle-o-day.” 𝄇

As we rode on together, my boys, to the outskirts of the town,
At length this fair young damsel, she stopped and looked around,
“Oh, since you've been so venturesome, pray tie it up for me.”
𝄆 “Oh, I will if you go to the apple grove, fol-der-o diddle-o-day.” 𝄇

And when we got to the apple grove, the grass was growing high.
I laid this girl upon her back, her garter for to tie.
While tying of her garter such sights I never did see
𝄆 And we both jogged on together, my boys, fol-der-o diddle-o-day. 𝄇

“Oh, since you've had your will of me, come tell to me your name,
Likewise your occupation, and where and whence you came.”
“My name is Mickey the drover boy, from Dublin town come I.
𝄆 And I live at the sign of the Ups and Downs, fol-der-o diddle-o-day.” 𝄇

And when she got to Aylesbury, her butter was not sold,
And the losing of her maidenhead it made her blood run cold.
“He's gone, he's gone, he's gone,” she said, “He's not the lad for me,
𝄆 For he lives at the sign of the Ups and Downs, fol-der-o diddle-o-day.” 𝄇

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Patrick Montague for correcting the lyrics.