"The Whummil Bore" (Roud 3722, Child 27) is an English-language folk song. A whummil is a tool for drilling holes.

Synopsis

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The narrator served the king seven years and "saw his daughter only once"—meaning saw her naked, through a whummil bore. She was being dressed by her maids.

Commentary

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Only one variant of this ballad exists.[1] "Hind Horn" appears to contain a stanza from it.[2]

Recording

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This is recorded on the Steeleye Span 2006 album Bloody Men.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 247, Dover Publications, New York 1965
  2. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 247, Dover Publications, New York 1965