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John Anderson, my Jo

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This song, like “Green Sleeves and Pudding Pies,” “Maggy Lauder” and some others, were invectives against the Catholic clergy about the time of the Reformation. The first verse refers to their luxurious habits:—

“John Anderson, my Jo, aim in as ze gae bye,

And ze sall get a sheip’s heid weel baken in a pye;

Weel baken in a pye, and the haggis in a pat.

John Anderson, my Jo, cum in, and ze’s get that.”

Another verse refers to the seven sacraments or “Seven bairns of Mother Church.”

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Jockey of Norfolk
Joe or a Joe Miller
Joey
Jog
Jog-trot
Joggis or Jogges
John
John-a-Dreams
John-a-Droynes
John-a-Nokes [or Noakes
John Anderson, my Jo
John Audley
John Bull
John Chinaman
John Company
John Doe
John Dory
John Dory
John Long
John Roberts (A)
John Thomas