Lyr Add: 1833 'Derby Ram'

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 1833 'Derby Ram'
From: Lighter
Date: 20 Nov 25 - 01:00 PM

A generation earlier the oldest known text, from "A Garland of New Songs containing 1 The old ram of Derby [etc.]" (Newcastle-on-Tyne?: Angus, Printer, ca1790):
                        


                        The old Ram of Derby

        As I was going to Derby
           All on a market day,
        I saw the finest Ram, sir,
           That ever was fed on hay.
                                              fal lal.

        The Butcher that killed this ram, sir,
           Was drowned in the blood,
        And the boy that held the bowl, sir,
           Was washed away in the flood.
                                  fal lal.

        The head of this said Ram, sir,
           Served fifty thousand men,
        It served them over and over,
           And ten times over again.
                                 fal lal.
        
       The horns that grew on his head, sir,
           Was fifty cubits high,
        Where the eagles built their nest, sir,
           For I heard the young ones cry.
                                  fal lal.

        The little boys of Derby
           Sent to me for his two eyes,
        For to kick about the street,
           For they were of a foot-ball size.
                                 fal lal.

        The beard of this said Ram, sir,
           Was an hundred yards long and an ell,
        And it was carried to Derby
           To ring the market bell.
                                 fal lal.

        The backbone of this Ram, sir,
           Made a mainmast for a ship,
        And they carried more upon it
           Than all the English fleet.
                                  fal lal.

        The wool that grew on his belly, sir,
           Hung dangling to the ground,
        And it was sold in Derby
           For fifty thousand pounds.
                                  fal lal.

        The wool that grew on his tail, sir,
           Was sold for as much more,
        And the tanner that tanned his hide, sir,
           Was never after poor.
                                 fal lal.
        
        Now Gentlemen and Ladies,
           If you think I lie,
        You may go now to Derby;
           And you’ll see it as well as I.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 1833 'Derby Ram'
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Oct 22 - 07:18 AM

The Crocodile was collected from Harry Cox by P Kennedy in 1953, it was also collected by sam henry, accordint to kennedys notesit appears in The Pepsyian Garland

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 1833 'Derby Ram'
From: Mo the caller
Date: 21 Oct 22 - 05:42 AM

Strange that this should come up just now.
I was listening to radio 3 "In Tune" and someone sang a Britten song about a crocodile. Sounded like a close cousin of that ram, and the Great Meat Pie. The Vaughan William's Library (EFDSS) has it collected by Lucy Broadwood.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 1833 'Derby Ram'
From: Lighter
Date: 17 Oct 22 - 12:02 PM

Anyone with access to the October 17 2022, New Yorker should turn to p. 65 for Roz Chast's cartoon take on the song.

Subject: Lyr Add: DERBY RAM / DARBY RAM (1833)
From: Lighter
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 11:17 AM

A significant text from the anonymous "Gimcrackiana; or, Fugitive Pieces on Manchester Men and Manners Ten Years Ago" (Manchester, 1833), pp. 183-84 ("from the oral chronicale of our great-grandmother" - a statement not to be taken too literally, I think):
^^
The Ram Of Derby

As I was going to Darby,
All on a market day,
I met the finest ram Sir,
That ever was fed upon hay.
[CHORUS] Indeed Sir, it's a truth Sir,
For I never was taught to lie,
And if you'll go to Darby Sir,
You may see it as well as I.


The wool upon his back Sir,
Reach'd up unto the sky,
The eagles built their nests there,
For I heaid the young ones cry.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

The wool upon his belly
It drag'd upon the ground,
It was sold at Darby town, sir
For forty thpusand pounds.

Indeed Sir, its a truth &c.

The space between the horns Sir,
Was far as man could reach,
And there they built a pulpit
But no one in it preach'd.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

The teeth that were in his mouth Sir,
Were like a regiment of men,
And the tongue that hung between Sir,
Would have din'd em twice & again

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

This ram jump'd o'er a wall Sir,
His tail caught on a briar,
It reach'd from Darby town, Sir
All into Leicestershire.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

And of this tail so long Sir,
The length you know full well,
They made a goodly rope Sir,
To toll the market bell.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

This ram had four legs to walk upon,
This ram had four legs to stand,
And every time he shifted them,
He cover'd an acre of land.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

All the maids in Darby
Came begging for his horns
To take them to the coopers
To make them milking gawns.

Indeed Sir it's a truth &c.

The little boys of Darby
They came to beg his eyes,
To roll about the streets Sir,
They being of foot ball's size.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

The butcher that kill'd this ram Sir,
Was drowned in the blood,
And all the people of Darby,
Were carried away in the Hood.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

The tanner who tann'd his hide Sir,
I'm sure he'll never be poor,
When he hang'd it out to dry Sir,
It covered all Swinscoe moor.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth, &c.

The jaws that were in his head Sir,
They were so fine and thin,
They were sold to a Methodist parson
For a pulpit to preach in.

Indeed Sir, it's a truth Sir,
For I never was taught to lie,
And if you go to Darby Sir,
You may eat a bit of the pie.