He was born in Hatfield and grew up in Hampstead, London. After training as an actor he sang in coffee bars. He became a resident at the Troubador folk club in Earls Court in the late 1950s. He joined Redd Sullivan's Thameside Four in 1961. He is a renowned solo performer of traditional songs in a very distinctive style, accompanying himself on his trusty old Martin Guitar; his style is marked by the use of alternate tunings, and a strongly percussive picking style that emphasizes the melody. His debut album, Martin Carthy, was released in 1965, and also featured Dave Swarbrick playing fiddle on some tracks, although he was not mentioned in the album's sleeve notes.
He has also been involved with many musical collaborations. He has sung with The Watersons since 1972, was an early member of the UK folk rock group Steeleye Span, and was part of the innovative Brass Monkey ensemble, which mixed a range of brass instruments with Carthy's guitar and mandolin and John Kirkpatrick's accordion, melodeon and concertina.
For many years Carthy has enjoyed a creative partnership with fiddle player Dave Swarbrick. More recently, Waterson:Carthy has provided the forum for a successful partnership with partner Norma Waterson together with their daughter Eliza Carthy.
In June 1998 he was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He was named Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002, and again in 2005 when he also won the award for Best Traditional Track for 'Famous Flower of Serving Men'.
Jolly Tinker
Martin Carthy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But she couldn′t get in his company but a little now and then
And you know she would
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
A noble London lady she used her ink and pen
She wrote a letter to the jolly tinkerman
And you know she did
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
She wrote to him a letter, she sealed it with her hand
Saying, "Oh how I love you now my jolly tinkerman."
And you know she did
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
She wrote to him another, she sent it with a friend
Saying, "O my jolly tinker, my kettle needs a mend."
And you know she did
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
As he came running down the lane and at the door he knocked
Saying, "Where's the rusty kettle with the hole I′ve got to block."
And you know he did
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
Lady come downstairs, opened up the door
She spied the jolly tinker standing naked on the floor
And you know he was
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
She led him through the kitchen, she led him through the hall
And the servants said, "The devil, has he come to block us all."
And you know he had
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
She led him up the stair to show him what to do
She fell on the featherbed and he fell on it too
And you know he did
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
She picked up the frying pan and she began to knock
Just to let the servants know my boys she was hard at work
And you know she was
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
Ran unto her pocket, she pulled out twenty pound
"Take this my jolly tinker and we'll have another round."
And you know we will
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
The song "Jolly Tinker" tells the story of a noble London lady who is infatuated with a tinkerman. However, their social statuses and differences in lifestyle prevent them from being together regularly. The lyrics depict the lady's attempts to connect with the tinkerman and express her love for him.
The lady first resorts to writing a letter to the jolly tinkerman, using her ink and pen as a means of communication. She seals the letter with her own hand, emphasizing her personal touch and heartfelt intentions. The lyrics highlight her deep affection for the tinkerman, emphasizing her love for him.
In another letter, the lady enlists the help of a friend to deliver a message to the tinkerman. She cleverly mentions that her kettle is in need of repair, perhaps symbolically referring to her own heart that longs for his attention. The lyrics show her determination to reach out to him, further underscoring her commitment and desire.
As the tinkerman receives the message and arrives at her door, he immediately brings up the issue of a rusty kettle that needs fixing. This could be interpreted metaphorically as the tinkerman's way of addressing the lady's needs and desires. The lyrics suggest that he takes action to fulfill her wishes, indicating his reciprocal affection and eagerness to please her.
As the lady opens the door, she is surprised to find the tinkerman standing naked on her doorstep. This unexpected sight reveals the intimate and slightly scandalous nature of their encounter. She leads him through the house, with the servants expressing their astonishment and concern. The lyrics suggest that the tinkerman's presence disrupts the normal routine of the house, possibly hinting at the disruptive power of love and desire.
The lady guides the tinkerman to her bedroom, where they become physically intimate on the featherbed. This act further symbolizes their passionate connection and the fulfillment of their desires. The use of the frying pan as a noisemaker signifies the lady's desire to alert the servants of her sexual activity, almost as though she is asserting her autonomy and embracing her own pleasure.
Ultimately, she gives the tinkerman twenty pounds, a significant amount of money at the time, as an expression of her gratitude and a suggestion for another encounter. This act reinforces their mutual pleasure and establishes a transactional aspect to their relationship, where both parties benefit from their romantic liaison.
In summary, "Jolly Tinker" depicts the story of a noble London lady who pursues a romantic connection with a tinkerman. The lyrics illustrate her persistent efforts to communicate her love, their passionate encounter, and the reciprocal nature of their relationship. It also touches upon themes of social barriers, love transcending class boundaries, and the vulnerabilities and desires of the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
A noble London lady she loved a tinkerman
A high-class woman from London was infatuated with a man who worked as a tinker.
But she couldn′t get in his company but a little now and then
However, she could only spend limited time with him and had little access to his presence.
And you know she would
It is evident that she desired his company.
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
Engaging in lively activities and enjoying the pleasures of life, while also fulfilling one's daily responsibilities.
A noble London lady she used her ink and pen
The woman employed her writing materials as a means of communication.
She wrote a letter to the jolly tinkerman
She composed a letter addressed to the cheerful tinkerman.
And you know she did
It is apparent that she followed through with her actions, writing the letter.
She wrote to him a letter, she sealed it with her hand
She not only wrote a letter to him but also closed it by using her own hand to seal it.
Saying, "Oh how I love you now my jolly tinkerman."
Expressing her affection towards him, acknowledging that she loves him.
She wrote to him another, she sent it with a friend
She went on to write another letter, which she entrusted to a friend for delivery.
Saying, "O my jolly tinker, my kettle needs a mend."
Conveying the message that her kettle requires repair, addressed affectionately to her beloved tinkerman.
As he came running down the lane and at the door he knocked
He approached swiftly along the path and eagerly knocked on the door.
Saying, "Where's the rusty kettle with the hole I′ve got to block."
Inquiring about the location of the worn-out kettle that he needed to fix by closing the hole.
And you know he did
It is clear that he fulfilled his duty and repaired the kettle.
Lady come downstairs, opened up the door
The lady descended the stairs and unlocked the door.
She spied the jolly tinker standing naked on the floor
To her surprise, she saw the tinkerman standing completely undressed on the floor.
And you know he was
It is evident that he was indeed naked in that moment.
She led him through the kitchen, she led him through the hall
She guided him through the kitchen and then through the hallways of the house.
And the servants said, "The devil, has he come to block us all."
The servants exclaimed in surprise, questioning if the tinkerman's unexpected arrival was causing trouble for everyone.
And you know he had
It is true that his presence brought about difficulties and disruptions.
She led him up the stair to show him what to do
She escorted him upstairs to demonstrate the task he needed to perform.
She fell on the featherbed and he fell on it too
Both of them ended up on the featherbed, falling onto it.
And you know he did
It is certain that he joined her on the featherbed.
She picked up the frying pan and she began to knock
She lifted the frying pan and started hitting it.
Just to let the servants know my boys she was hard at work
She did so to inform the servants that she was engrossed in her duties.
And you know she was
It is clear that she truly demonstrated her dedication to work.
Ran unto her pocket, she pulled out twenty pound
She swiftly reached into her pocket and extracted a sum of twenty pounds.
"Take this my jolly tinker and we'll have another round."
She presented the money to the tinkerman, suggesting that they use it to enjoy themselves once more.
And you know we will
It is apparent that they indeed plan to have another enjoyable experience.
Rum to the diddle, rum a diddle work a day
Indulging in merry activities while also fulfilling daily responsibilities.
Writer(s): Martin Carthy
Contributed by Evan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bobnic8283
Terrific - wonderful.
@viking1au
Classic Martin Carthy.
@MrStrigori
awesome...just awesome
@JDibden
FABULOUS BUT WHAT CHORDS ARE THESE PLEASE!!!! JENNY IVE LOOKED EVERYWHERE