The Old Baby Farmer
Nov. 30th, 2010 05:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dormouse1953Switched on Radio 3 this lunchtime and heard a gruesome song called The Old Baby Farmer, The Wretched Mrs Dyer. I was reminded of Tom Lehrer's introduction to The Old Dope Peddler about how they write songs about the oddest professions.
In this case, the programme was Composer of the Week discussing E.J. Moeran and it was his arrangement of an old Victorian ballad that was being played. Seems that this was based on a real story:
The old baby farmer, the wretched Miss Dyer
In this case, the programme was Composer of the Week discussing E.J. Moeran and it was his arrangement of an old Victorian ballad that was being played. Seems that this was based on a real story:
The old baby farmer, the wretched Miss Dyer
At the Old Bailey her wages is paid.
In times long ago, we'd 'a' made a big fy-er
And roasted so nicely that wicked old jade.
You can hear the song on the BBC listen again service for the rest of the week. It's rather jolly, given what it's about.
