Many of the wandering boys (sometimes girls) at Christmas were simply high-spirited and adventurous, and the hope of a few coins, or perhaps a treat, was incentive for anyone. It was not always innocent, though. Some of the poor were imploring, but others were intimidating. The song about the figgy pudding is illustrative. Figgy pudding had alcohol, as did the cup of good cheer. The following verse about "won't go until we get some" is sung in jolly tones now, but it was serious then. How many houses do the lads have to go to before these add up, eh? "High-spirited," though a good thing, can turn bad. And often did. It would be unfair to brand the practice as nothing more than young toughs seeking alcohol, but that element was always there.
Also recommended, BTW, Is The Chieftains "St Stephen's Day Murders." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8fPvODASoI
I think you said that you had quit reading Instapundit recently, which means you may have missed this similar argument about the dark sarcasm modern readers miss in "Jingle Bells."
I did miss that. I read the article and was not convinced. Just because sleigh riding was in fact potentially dangerous does not mean people didn't enjoy it, and that any description of it must therefore actually be a hidden warning or sarcastic. The article offers nothing else to prove its point. We have lots of enjoyable songs about fast cars, motorcycles, or "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine" in an era when that was quite dangerous.
Many of the wandering boys (sometimes girls) at Christmas were simply high-spirited and adventurous, and the hope of a few coins, or perhaps a treat, was incentive for anyone. It was not always innocent, though. Some of the poor were imploring, but others were intimidating. The song about the figgy pudding is illustrative. Figgy pudding had alcohol, as did the cup of good cheer. The following verse about "won't go until we get some" is sung in jolly tones now, but it was serious then. How many houses do the lads have to go to before these add up, eh? "High-spirited," though a good thing, can turn bad. And often did. It would be unfair to brand the practice as nothing more than young toughs seeking alcohol, but that element was always there.
ReplyDeleteAlso recommended, BTW, Is The Chieftains "St Stephen's Day Murders." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8fPvODASoI
I think you said that you had quit reading Instapundit recently, which means you may have missed this similar argument about the dark sarcasm modern readers miss in "Jingle Bells."
ReplyDeletehttps://www.humanprogress.org/crashing-through-the-snow-the-grim-sarcasm-behind-jingle-bells/
I'll see if I can find a version with the complete original lyrics.
I did miss that. I read the article and was not convinced. Just because sleigh riding was in fact potentially dangerous does not mean people didn't enjoy it, and that any description of it must therefore actually be a hidden warning or sarcastic. The article offers nothing else to prove its point. We have lots of enjoyable songs about fast cars, motorcycles, or "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine" in an era when that was quite dangerous.
ReplyDelete