Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Popular music of the olden time > Volume 2

518
ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
JOAN'S PLACKET IS TORN.
The earliest notice I have found of this air, is in Pepys's Diary ; where, under
date of 22nd June, 1667, he speaks of a trumpeter, on board the Royal Charles,
sounding the tune of Joan's Placket is torn.
It is contained in The Dancing Master of 1686 (additional sheet), and in all
subsequent editions ; also in the ballad-operas of Achilles, The Bays' Opera, and
Love in a Riddle.
Colley Gibber's song, " When I followed a lass that was froward and shy,"
which was written to the tune, for Love in a Riddle, in 1729, was transferred by
Bickerstaff to Love in a Village, about thirty years later, without acknowledg-
ment of the source from which he derived it.
In the Collection of Loyal Songs, 1685 and 1694, is one entitled, " The plot
crain'd into Jone's Placket: To the tune of Jowls Placket is torn." It is also
one of the tunes called for by " the hobnailed fellows " in The History of Robert
Poivel, the Pwppet-shewmmi, 8vo., 1715.
As to the word " placket," in " An exact Chronologie of memorable things " in
Wit's Interpreter, 3rd edit., 1671, it is said to be " sixty-six years since maids began
to wear plackets." According to Middleton, the placket is " the open part" of a
petticoat ; and the word is not altogether obsolete, since the opening in the petti-
coats of the present day is still called " the placket hole," in contradistinction to
the pocket hole.
A very good song has been written to this tune by Charles Mackay (entited
" The Return Home ") ; but I have not discovered the original words.
Moderate time.
3^
Mj 3 h«p w * «j • J~J:
Joan's placket is torn,
i>: , l . (1
m
ESE
i ^^rt^^ ^^
=P=pc
J J J , J J J,
*■
¥
m
— i h i r= j i i r
afcat
m
*#
fff