[Ads-l] "Katy, bar the door" (1872-1887)

[Peter Reitan]

Interesting.  There is a specific connection between the 1841 poem from The Mirror, with "Kate bar the creaking door," and the 1858 song, "Up and Bar the Door."

The 1858 song begins, "It fell about the Martinmas time . . ."
The 1841 poem includes the line, "'twas at the time of Martinmas . . ." (and two other references to Martinmas).

The stories are otherwise not very similar - the 1841 poem is about a grim murder and the years-later suicide by the conscience-stricken murder.

The 1858 song is a comedic song about a lazy couple, neither of whom want to lock the door.



> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2016 10:22:11 +0000
> From: peter_morris_1 at BLUEYONDER.CO.UK
> Subject: "Katy, bar the door" (1872-1887)
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> 
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Peter Morris <peter_morris_1 at BLUEYONDER.CO.UK>
> Subject:      "Katy, bar the door" (1872-1887)
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> I found this poem. Published in The Mirror,=20
> Feb 6 1841.
> 
> It may or  may not be relevant.
> 
> 
> 
> The Old Smithy (A Farm-house tale)=20
> 
> The snw is drifting on the ground,=20
> And loud the east wind roars ;=20
> Come, men and maidens, hie you in ;=20
> Kate, bar those creaking doors.=20
> 
> Call in the dogs, rouse up the fire ;=20
> And, mistress, do you hear ?=20
> Heat us a jug of elder wine,=20
> For the night is chill and drear.=20
> 
> http://tinyurl.com/z5n3jc5
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
 		 	   		  
------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org