Betsey Baker (1829)/Who's master, or, A fight for the breeches

WHO’S MASTER?

OR,

A FIGHT FOR THE BREECHES.

Sung by Mr. Potts, Theatrical Pavilion, Glasgow.

I’ve often heard Will’s wife declare,
That she the breeches, Sirs, would wear;
And though her husband would resist,
For them she'd fight with nails and fist,
⁠To gain, to gain the breeches.

One day as they were at it driving,
(Who would he master they were striving)
A single rap came to the door,
And for a while they did give o’er
⁠Fighting, fighting, fighting for the breeches.

Will ope’d the door, the business asked;
When he who knocked poor Will thus tasked,
“The master of this house I want!”
“See him just now I’m sure you can’t,
⁠Until he gets the breeches.

“For spouse and Will can’t well agree,
As yet who master is to be;
But in five minutes, Sir, or so,
Who master is we then shall know,
⁠And who’s to wear the breeches.”

Now spouse and Will they did engage,
They both set on with equal rage;
At length poor Will was forced to yield,
And, soundly drubbed, to quit the field;
⁠He lost, he lost the breeches!

Spouse she went unto the door,
Just as Will had done before:
“Good morning, friend, your business, pray?
I master am, I’ve gained the day,
⁠I wear, I wear the breeches!
⁠Yes, I wear, I wear the breeches!”