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| Cutter? http://www.nelsonandhisworld.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=167 |
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| Author: | tycho [ Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Cutter? |
While I was looking for information about 'Heart of Oak' I came across a rather sad little song, 'O the weary cutters', which clearly refers to the press gang, 'cutter' being an eighteenth century word for a bully, (and 'weary' meaning 'tiresome' rather than 'tired') 'O the weary cutters, they've taen my laddie fre me, They've pressed him far away foreign Wi' Nelson ayout [sic] the salt sea....' and an interesting last verse: 'I'll give the cutter a guinea, I'll give the cutter a guinea To steal my laddie ashore...' I wonder if bribery was a common ploy to rescue a pressed man? |
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