Happy Goose Fair Day!

Annually on the 1st Thursday of Oct. for 3 days:

10/6 in 2005

It's the
Nottingham Goose Fair!
(since 1284 -- that's a while!)

          I met the king and the queen and a company of men
          A-walking behind and riding before;
          A stark naked drummer came marching along
          With his hands in his bosom always beating his drum.
  
                  "Fair Nottamun Town," Sharp English Folk Songs from Southern Appalachians,
                  collected in Kentucky 1917.

We're familiar with the beautiful Jean Ritchie family version, of course. She notes that in researching her family songs, she tracked down and collected the version of this mysterious magic song in Nottingham, England. On asking the meaning, she was told that if the meaning were all that clear, the magic would be lost.

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
What are Happy's all about? See Notes and Index