PURE FINDER

I am an Old Pure Finder, yes pure is the word
What I find, me and my kind, you might find absurd
I searches out what lurchers left, it’s a strange kind of job
Picking up a job or two, to pick up just two bob.

I am an Old Pure Finder, when folks say “How d’ya do?”
Says I, “Well, I do doodoo and do do well don’t you?”
I do doodoo so well, when the doodoo I do sell,
But could do doodoo better if the doodoo didn’t smell.

I am an Old Pure Finder, and often privvy to
Evacuation information, where the dung is new.
As canine clay collector I tries to do my bit
At the places with the faeces and the spots where doggies hit.

I am an Old Pure Finder, a retriever of the mess
And not the kind of job to do, unless done to ex-cess
Riches come from bitches, as I work  dern hard
Accruing Basset assets, whilst praying to St Bernard

I am an Old Pure Finder and Miss Brown down our street
Smiles, beguilingly and looks at me so sweet.
She knows what I wants, as she walks around
And lets her mighty Mastiff for to litter on the ground.

I am an Old Pure Finder, Miss Brown's Boxer he's a champ
Which leaves a lot to be desired and all of it quite damp.
I wished he had a family, says she “Oh, haven’t you heard?
There’ll be no pups popping-up, he has been doctered.”

I am an Old Pure Finder, & reporters from the press
Come to me, for a scoop, though one he did confess,
In passing, was just dropping-by, said this newshound chap
But asked a lot of questions, just to write his load of clap trap


I am an Old Pure Finder & strive for self improvement
I adore orchestral music, like Beethoven's final movement
And study at the Kennel Club which is a hard slog
But, if asked to pick a favourite, ’twould be sausage dog.


‘Pure Finding’ was a Victorian London occupation well established by 1851, 
by 1935 it had disappeared  Just in case it is not obvious from the song ‘Pure’ 
was a euphemism for dog muck.  As a source of income it paid about 8 shillings per bucket.
Due to a worsening economic climate and the popularity of ‘Pure Finding’ as a career for 
those without recognised skills the revenue fell to about 1/6 per pail.  
The ‘Pure’ was taken to tanneries for use in tanning.  The alkalinity counteracts the 
acidity left from the tanning agents.  Indeed a tannery of orthopaedic leather in Colyton, 
Devon had a ‘dog shit pit’ in the sixties and as John said it was a foul hole. 
Chicken guano had been discovered in the 1980's, as it was easier to obtain but still 
provided the same high quality results.  
Because dog pollution can spread serious disease in humans pure finding was encouraged from 
a health standpoint.  
Horse manure certainly became the subject of political debate and inevitable legislation 
because of the sheer volume of traffic, as it were.  
The inspiration for this song was Henry Mayhew who published interviews with 1000 of 
London's poorest workers in his tome “London Trades & London Poor”, his attention to detail 
was legendary.

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©   Cresby March 3rd 1996