Fairport Convention

Doctor of Physick

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Doctor of Physick Lyrics

"Take care daughter dear
Don't dream on many gallant men tonight
Take care daughter dear
For a doctor comes to steal your books in the dead of night"
Every ?sign? in here
So wear your relic near
Doctor Monk unpacks his trunk tonight
"Oh, father dear
I dreamed last night a man sat on my bed
And I fear
When I awoke I could not find my maidenhead"
Every ?sign? in here
So wear your relic near
Doctor Monk unpacks his trunk tonight
He'll have you all
You fine young ladies, pure as fallen snow
He'll have you all
If you think upon improper things, the doctor will know
Every ?sign? in here
So wear your relic near
Doctor Monk unpacks his trunk tonight
Doctor Monk unpacks his trunk tonight

Submitted by

eyrian On Oct 11, 2007

Matty Groves

Farewell, Farewell

Crazy Man Michael

Who knows where the time goes

Tam Lin

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eyrian

Submitter

2007-10-11 02:14:30

1 Meaning

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by PBA

11y ago

I'd propose these corrections to the lyrics:

"Don't dream of any gallant men tonight"

and

"Every sigh he'll hear"

It seems very much a re-telling and re-contextualising of the Succubus myth.

Young virgin girl starts having sexual thoughts and is de-flowered by a "spirit". Here the spirit is replaced by the Doctor figure. Physick is an old term for medical practice, suggesting someone, perhaps unqualified? He is also called Doctor Monk in the song. I've wondered for years if I was miss hearing that line but all the on line lyrics I've seen say Doctor Monk... I suggest then that maybe it is an allusion to religion. If so, the song puts both the medical profession and the church in a questionable, sinister position.

Good work Mr. Thompson and Mr. Swarbrick!

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