This collection investigates the historical and cultural significance of bawdy folk songs within the English-speaking tradition. Don Laycock, a linguist and scholar, compiles these lyrics to examine how humor, social rebellion, and human sexuality are expressed through oral traditions. The book provides a scholarly framework for understanding the evolution of ribald verse and its role in communal entertainment.

The work is regarded as a comprehensive, albeit niche, academic resource for those interested in the intersection of linguistics and folk culture. Its scholarly approach provides a structured look at material often relegated to informal settings, offering a serious examination of a historically overlooked genre.