Mudcat Help & Trouble Forum
Please correct the words to Widdecombe Fair
Messages posted to topic:abadgery@neptune.on.ca 13-Dec-04 - 08:59 PM
Jeri 13-Dec-04 - 09:52 PM
Malcolm 15-Dec-04 - 02:04 AM
Subject: Please correct the words to Widdecombe Fair
From: abadgery@neptune.on.ca
Date: 13-Dec-04 - 08:59 PM
The words that have been sung in north Devon and Somerset for many years may be seen in the attached website.The words that are quoted in Mudcat bear no resemblance to any that I have ever sung or heard before. Alan
http://mysongbook.de/msb/songs/w/widdecom.html
Subject: RE: Please correct the words to Widdecombe Fair
From: Jeri
Date: 13-Dec-04 - 09:52 PM
The lyrics of the version (from the singing of the Spinners) posted on the above website are closer to Tom Pierce (Tam Pearse) in the DT, although the last verse isn't in the DT version.
The version of Widdecombe Fairthat Jean Ritchie collected from Bill Westaway is quite a bit different, but an interesting version.
Subject: RE: Please correct the words to Widdecombe Fair
From: Malcolm
Date: 15-Dec-04 - 02:04 AM
The DT text, though cursed with "skirlins" and "rattlins", is very close to the set that appeared in Baring-Gould's Songs of the West (1905). It omits a verse, but so does Susanne's text also referred to. The song has been quite widespread in the South of England, and is often localised to other places. There is no single "correct version".
WIDDECOMBE FAIR
Tom Pierce, Tom Pierce, lend me thy gray mare
Ri fol lol the dol diddle i doe
That I may ride up to Widdecombe Fair
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins, Hugh Davy
Philly Whitpot, George Pausley, Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and
all, Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all
Oh when shall I see my gray mare home again?
Ri fol lol the dol diddle i doe
By Friday night or Saturday morn
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins, Hugh Davy
Philly Whitpot, George Pausley, Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and
all, Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all
Oh Friday night was past and Saturday was come
Ri fol lol the dol diddle i doe
Tom Pierce's old gray mare was not a come home
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins, Hugh Davy
Philly Whitpot, George Pausley, Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and
all, Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all
Tom pierce he went up on a high hill
Ri fol lol the dol diddle i doe
He saw his old mare down making his will
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins, Hugh Davy
Philly Whitpot, George Pausley, Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and
all, Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all
So how did you know it was your old mare
Ri fol lol the dol diddle i doe
Her one foot was shoed and the other three bare
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins, Hugh Davy
Philly Whitpot, George Pausley, Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and
all, Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all
The wind whistles hard on the moor of a night
Ri fol lol the dol diddle i doe
Tom Pierce's gray mare he appeared ghastly white
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins, Hugh Davy
Philly Whitpot, George Pausley, Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and
all, Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all
Then all the night long we heard shirklins and groans
Ri fol lol the dol diddle i doe
Tom Pierce's gray mare he was rattling his bones
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins, Hugh Davy
Philly Whitpot, George Pausley, Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and
all, Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all
So this is the end of my shocking affair
Ri fol lol the dol diddle i doe
I've give you the career of Tom Pierce's old mare
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins, Hugh Davy
Philly Whitpot, George Pausley, Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and
all, Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all
@English @animal @kids
Sung by Bill Westaway on Jean Ritchie Field Trip - England
filename[ WIDDECOM
TUNE FILE: WIDDECOM
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF