Just from internal evidence, it seems to be an English traditional ballad of the bawdy drinking song variety (like The Good Ship Venus of deserved ill-repute), and all in all I think it's meant ironically.
Interesting question. I come from a long line of Army families and the only reference to it I can remember is that soldiers were issued with a piece of kit known as a "housewife", which contained needles, sewing thread and spare buttons etc. Not a likely explanation, but possible.
Interesting question. I come from a long line of Army families and the only reference to it I can remember is that soldiers were issued with a piece of kit known as a "housewife", which contained needles, sewing thread and spare buttons etc. Not a likely explanation, but possible.
Thanks to everyone for humoring me on this one. I just don't understand why the line is there if two wives really weren't allowed in the army at one time - maybe some sort of recompense for being away from home most of the time.
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Just from internal evidence, it seems to be an English traditional ballad of the bawdy drinking song variety (like The Good Ship Venus of deserved ill-repute), and all in all I think it's meant ironically.
That's the general feeling I get, too. For some reason this question has become a bit of an obsession.
Interesting question. I come from a long line of Army families and the only reference to it I can remember is that soldiers were issued with a piece of kit known as a "housewife", which contained needles, sewing thread and spare buttons etc.
Not a likely explanation, but possible.
Interesting question. I come from a long line of Army families and the only reference to it I can remember is that soldiers were issued with a piece of kit known as a "housewife", which contained needles, sewing thread and spare buttons etc.
Not a likely explanation, but possible.
married to the wife and the army, too?
Thanks to everyone for humoring me on this one. I just don't understand why the line is there if two wives really weren't allowed in the army at one time - maybe some sort of recompense for being away from home most of the time.
Maybe it refers to a wife at home and a girl friend in the field?
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