“The Three Butchers (Dixon and Johnson)”

Description

Three butchers are riding when they hear a woman calling out. They find her naked and bound. They free her; she blows a whistle which summons robbers. Two butchers yield, but Johnson fights and is close to winning when the woman stabs him from behind

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Harding B 28(206), "The Three Butchers," W. Wright (Birmingham), 1820-1827; also 2806 c.16(200), Harding B 11(4230), Firth c.17(1), Harding B 11(876), Firth c.17(2), Harding B 25(1901), Harding B 15(330b), Harding B 16(288a), "[The] Three Butchers"; Harding B 11(1767), Firth c.17(3), "Ips, Gips, and Johnson" or "The Three Butchers[!]"

Recordings

• Bob Scarce, "Three Jolly Sportsmen" (on FSB8)
• Pete Seeger, "The Three Butchers" (on PeteSeeger16)

References

1. Laws L4, "The Three Butchers"
2. Randolph 97, "Dixon and Johnson" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Randolph/Cohen, pp. 74-75, "Dixon and Johnson" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 97)
4. FSCatskills 111, "The Three Jolly Butchers" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Kennedy 335, "Three Jolly Sportsmen" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 254-255, "Young Butcher Boy" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. JHCox 86, "Jackison and Dickison" (1 text)
8. SharpAp 60, "The Three Butchers" (4 texts, 4 tunes)
9. SHenry H185, pp. 128-129, "The Three Huntsmen/Wilson, Gilmore, and Johnson" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. MacSeegTrav 24, "The Three Butchers" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. BrownII 80, "The Three Butchers" (2 texts)
12. Chappell-FSRA 46, "Good Woman" (1 fragment)
13. Creighton/Senior, pp. 120-122, "The Three Jovial Huntsmen" (2 texts, 2 tunes, with the first being a peculiar variant in which the huntsmen all resist and Johnson kills the deceitful woman)
14. Creighton-NovaScotia 97, "The Three Gallant Huntsmen" (1 text, 1 tune; this resembles the Creighton/Senior version in which the huntsmen win the battle)
15. Greenleaf/Mansfield 37, "Johnson" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
16. Peacock, pp. 817-818, "Jolly Butchermen" (1 text, 1 tune)
17. Karpeles-Newfoundland 33, "The Three Butchers" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
18. Leach-Labrador 59, "Three Boocher Lads" (1 text, 1 tune)
19. Silber-FSWB, p. 223, "Johnson" (1 text)
20. BBI, ZN782, "Did you never hear of worthy butchers three"; ZN1365, "I'll tell you a story of lovely butchers three"
21. DT 325, BUTCHER2 BUTCHER3*
22. Roud #17
23. BI, LL04