Commentary
Verse 1 begins: 'Ye gentlemen listen to my humble song, / And I will declare what I think to be wrong'. A woodcut decoration has been included between the title and the verses. This sheet addresses itself to the ridiculousness of complete inactivity on a Sabbath. There are many sheets contained in the National Library of Scotland's collection which detail Sabbath breaking. According to many of the crime reports and moral texts this is one of the gravest offences to commit and truly imperils the immortal soul. The sheet also refers to the Corn Laws and beer and sugar tax. Early ballads were dramatic or humorous narrative songs derived from folk culture that predated printing. Originally perpetuated by word of mouth, many ballads survive because they were recorded on broadsides. Musical notation was rarely printed, as tunes were usually established favourites. The term 'ballad' eventually applied more broadly to any kind of topical or popular verse.
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