Origins: Nottamun Town

Subject: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: Philippa
Date: 12 Sep 99 - 02:27 PM

It's in the database okay, but there are no background notes. What is the derivation and function of this odd song?

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: John Hindsill
Date: 12 Sep 99 - 03:34 PM

Philippa-- Your choice of the word "odd" seems quite apt. Here is what I found in the commentary of the booklet which accompanied the "The Folk Box," Elektra, 1964.

Jean Ritchie calls it "[a] strange combination of nonsense words and ethereal tune." It is her opinion that its origin is in the Mummers' Plays of England. It almost has the feel of a 60s psychedelic trip!

Incidentally, the air was used by Bob Dylan for his words, "Masters of War".

Hope this gets you on the road to its origins.---John

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From:
Date: 12 Sep 99 - 03:47 PM

I knew that but I want to know more!

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From:
Date: 12 Sep 99 - 04:03 PM

"Nottamun Town" or "Nottingham Fair" seems to be derived from "Teague's Ramble" in the Scare Songs 1 file at www.erols.com/olsonw. "Paddy Backward" is an imitation of "Teague's Ramble" without direct borrowing of lines. See the Irish tunes index at the same website for an early title for the tune "Teague's Ramble", and sources of copies of the tune.

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From:
Date: 12 Sep 99 - 04:42 PM

The "Nottingham Fair" version is in Randolph's 'Ozark Folksongs', II, #446; six verses with tune. A bawdy parody collected by Randolph is given under the same title in Randolph-Legman's 'Roll Me In Your Arms', #83 (same tune given).

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 12:15 AM

Thanks Bruce.

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: GeorgeH
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 12:46 PM

I don't want to appear pessimistic (as if I could!!), but I've seen this discussed several times, and never ended up any the wiser. Best just regard it as a find song . . It amazes me how powerful (emotionally) it is, despite its meaning being obscure.

Mind you, not as powerful as Martin Simpson's performance of "Masters of War" . . .

G.

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From:
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 11:51 PM

Here's a bit of prose, from the 17th century, along the same lines as "Nottamun Town" and "Teague's Ramble". See also "Tom Tell-truth" and notes of traditional versions at the file and website noted above

        It was the last Monday Morning at four o'clock in the afternoon before Sun-rise, going over High-gate Hill in a Boat; I met with a man I overlooked, I asked him, if the Old Woman was dead that was drowned at Ratcliff Highway a fortnight ago; He told me he could not tell; But if I went a little further, I should meet with two men a Horse-back on a mare, in a Blew jerkin, and a pair of Freestone Breeches, & they would give me true intelligence, so when I came up with the fellows, they thought I was a Hector which came to rob them, and therefore ran from me, but I furiously pursued before them. Their horse for haste died under them, so that one of them for madness drew forth his sword and kill'd him, the horse for vexation seeing himself dead, ran away as fast as he could, leaving them to go on foot upon another horse back Forth miles. Friends said I, I mean you no harm, but pray inform me whether or no the old Woman be Dead that was drownd at Ratcliff high-way a fortnight ago, they all told me they could not tell, but if I went a little further I should meet with two men driving an empty Cart full of Apples, & a millstone in the midst, and they would give me true Intelligence; but when I came up with them, they could not satisfie me neither, but told me if I went to the water side there lived one Sir John Vangs that would give me intelligence. So going up to ye water side; I hoopt & hollowed, but could make nobody see: At last I heard six country lads & lasses fast asleep, playing at ninepins under a Haycock made of Pease straw, in the midst of the Thames, & eating of rost bag pudding freezing hot; but at last I met with two Watermen, that carried me clean over the water, and landed me up to the knees in mud, and when we were in the midst of the Thames in Ratcliff High-way, one of the she-watermen espied a swan, and swore if she had it at home, it would make a Goose-pye....... [Initially a prose broadside in 1660, then later as a chapbook.]

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From:
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 10:51 AM

I'm lookin for the lyrics of a song from Co. Wexford, in Ireland, which, as far as I recall, is set at the period of the 1798 rebellion. I first heard it sung by Paddy Berry, himself from Wexford. Can anybody help me?

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: Philippa
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 11:03 AM

Guinan, what on earth does your request have to do with Nottamun town? Your asking in the wrong thread!/to the rest of you, thanks for your responses

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: Doug Olsen
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 04:37 PM

Bert Jansch did a fine recording of Nottamun Town on the album "Jack Orion" ca 1970. I seem to recall that it's one of many English songs that died out in England and only stayed alive in Appalachia. And the answer to "What does it all mean?" is Mr Natural's answer (IMHO).

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From:
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 05:32 PM

The English have a good analogue.

"A shoulder of mutton jumped over from France" is very similar in style to "Nottamun Town". The verse form is identical. Contributed by Cecil Sharp to Journal of the Folk Song Society #20 (1916). Another version is "As I was going to Banbury", in Sharp, Vaughn Williams et. al., A Selection of English Folk Songs. It is also in Cecil Sharp's Collection of English Folksongs". This is a traditional form of "Tom Tell-truth" in the Scarce Songs 1 file at www.erols.com/olsonw [The traditional versions aren't there because I don't know if they are still copyrighted.]

A similar song in Gaelic is "Amhran na mBeag" (Nonsense Song) in The Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, #20, p. 23, 1923.

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From:
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 06:11 PM

A Shoulder of Mutton Jumped over from France.

As I was a-walking along in the fields
    Fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.
As I was a-walking along in the fields
I saw St. Pauls' Steeple a-running on wheels
.     With a fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.

On top of the Steeple, O what should I see
    Fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.
On top of the Steeple, O what should I see
But a fine young sapling codling tree.
    With a fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.

When the codlings were ripe they began to fall;
    Fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.
When the codlings were ripe they began to fall;
They killed six thousand people and all.
    With a fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.

They killed a man when he was dead
    Fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.
They killed a man when he was dead
And sent for some people to look for his head.
    With a fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.

And in his head they found a spring
    Fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.
And in his head they found a spring
And twenty live salmon a-swimming within.
    With a fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.

Each salmon was as big as an elf
    Fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.
Each salmon was as big as an elf
If you want any more you must sing it yourself.
    With a fal lal, lal-de-ro-lee.

X:1
T:A Shoulder of Mutton Jumped over from France.
S:JFSS #20, 1916
Q:120
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:F
C|F3/2 F/ F D D D|G3/2 G/ G E3|A3F3|\
B3/2 A/ B >G2 G|A3/2 A/ G A A G|\
A3/2 A/ B .c2 C/ C/|F3/2 F/ F D D D|G A F E D C|\
F3D3|C3/2 D/ E F3|]

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 06:41 PM

Guinan (that wouldn't be "Jagger Guinan" by any chance?)

Asking for a 1798 song by Paddy Berry is a bit like asking for an aria from Pavarotti! Take Philipa's advice, start another thread, give us a bit more information and we'll see what we can do.

Regards

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From:
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 09:02 PM

Amhran na mBreag.
[JIFSS, #20, p. 23, 1923.]

Is greannmhar an an nídh do chím-se ar na bóithribh-
Eascú agus píob aici ag síor-cheóil dúinn,
An breac lughach sa' linn--och! ba mhín iad a bhróga,
Is an bhfeacabhair na caoire sa' gheimhridh ag buaint mhóa?
        Mangalum die dero, do dero, dílis é
        Bog do chos, croth do chos, téanam ag rinnce liom.

Dá bhfeicfá- s'an Mhangarta 'grafadh Mágh Cóna, [place not located
'San Dá Chích geal a 'tál bainne go leór uaidh,
An Seann-Drom ag pramhsaigh ar ghamhnaibh an Róistigh,
'Gus sailchid' is muc aigo 'dul léi do'n phóna!
        Cho.

Dá bhfeicafá-sa bricín ag breith coinín i bpoll leis,
Is nead ag an bhfuiseóg an ghanndail,
Cearc uisce ag crónán is ag buaint ceóil bhreagh as trompaí
'Gus madarua ar an dteinteán is an sraoilleán ag amhastruigh.
        Cho.

Dá bhfeicfá-sa an fhionnóg ar stuaic ag buaint biolair.
Is Gearán a mBráthar le n-a chárt ag tomhas mine,
An chearc is an bárdal idir an Spáineach is an Turcaigh
'Gus giorae agus bríste air ag ól fíona ar bórd luinge.
        Cho.

Dá bhfeicfá-sa Coraigh ag snámh i mbota bláthaighe,
Baile Átha Claith ag gabháil síar annso ag fiadhach ar Chnoc Áine,
Tigh Molaige ar dhá mhaide ag cur catha ar Phort Láirge
Is Cloch-na-Coillte ar mhuin dhá chaoirigh ag dul fo Muinntear Bháire.
        Cho.

Do chonnac-sa sceacha gan mhaidí gan deilgne,
Dhá mhadarna is iad gan chluasa gan earball,
Teampall ar fuaid gleannta is é ag damhas is ag eiteallaigh,
Is ní bréatgaí mé féinigh ná an té seo do chreidfeadh mé.
        Cho.

[Literal translation in JIFSS]

This is a comical thing that I see on the roads-
An ell with bag-pipes playing for us all the time,
The sportive trout in the pool- oh! what fine shoes he has,
And did you see the sheep in the winter cutting turf?

You should have seen Mangerton hoeing Magh Cóna,
And the lovely Paps giving copious milk.
Shandrum prancing on Roches' calves
And a snail leading a pig to the pound!

You should have seen a trout pulling a rabbit into his hole,
And the lark having a nest in the gander's beard,
A water-ben crooning and making fine music on the jew's harp
And a fox on the hearth, and the cricket barking.

You should have seen the crow on the hummock gathering watercress,
And Garrane-na-brahar with its quart-pot measuring meal, [horse of friar
The hen and the drake twixt the Spaniard and the Turk
And a hare with breeches on drinking wine aboard ship.

You should have seen Cork swimming in a tub of buttermilk,
Dublin travelling westward and hunting on Knoackany,
Timoleague on two sticks wagging war on Waterford [crutches
And Clonakilty on the back of two sheep going to Muinntear Bháire.

I saw thorn trees without branches or prickles,
Two foxes without ears or tails,
A church dancing and leaping all over the valleys,
And I am no liar, nor is the person who believes me.

X:1
T:Ambran na mBreag.
S:JIFSS #20, 1923
Q:120
L:1/4
M:3/4
K:D
A|FAA|ABA|ddd|cBA|d2d|BcA|B3/2 B/B|BB3/2B/|\
dcB|cBA|FAA|AFE|FBB|ccc|BBB|AFz||DDE|FB,B,|\
DCD|FB,B,|DED|FB,B,|DEF|EDD|]

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 02:48 AM

G'day,
Just to be a bit trivial, these songs always remind me of the old schoolground ditty "One fine day in the middle of the night".

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: Philippa
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 06:53 AM

we're getting into the realm of nonsense songs in general, though I don't know how much this helps us deal with Nottamun town. The nonsense song that comes to my mind at present is "I'm here because I'm here" with verses such as
Never throw a brick at a drowning man
If you're close to a grocery store.
Just throw him a bar of Sunlight Soap
And he can wah himself ashore-i-ah
He can wash hinself ashore

I understand that song better than I do Nottamun town; the humour is quite clearly in the wordplay, the puns. And it doesn't have the haunting melody of Nottamun town - Bob Dylan choose well.

By the way, though I was curt with Guinan above; I did e-mail the interloper with suggestions on looking at the Wexford 1798 examples in the DT and at a songs of 1798 website, as well as a reminder of the usual protocol re starting new threads. I'd prefer this thread not to go too far off the tangent.

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: GeorgeH
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 08:24 AM

Philippa: Unless you're talking of a different "I'm here because I'm here" then surely it's unusual in being later than most of our nonsense songs (which might be expected to leave its words less confused). I know it as "We're here because we're here" and as a first (?) world war song; hence it's the humour of bored soldiers rather than somthing obscure?

But I could be wrong. I often am!

George

Subject: RE: Info request - Nottamun Town
From: Jane Bird
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 12:07 PM

Re: "As I Was A-going to Banbury", I always thought that the last verse was:

One of the Salmon as big as an elk.

However, I see from the version of this song in the database, and from the earlier quoted "A Shoulder of Mutton Jumped over from France", that it's probably "an elf". Is it just my bad hearing, or does any body else think they've heard an "elk" version of one of these songs?

Cheers,
Jane

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GRAY MARE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 03:01 PM

Here's a related song, from the Library of Congress American Memory collection:

THE
GRAY MARE.

As sung by Bob Hart, at the American Concert Hall, 444 Broadway, N. Y.

As I was a walking to Nottingham fair,
A riding on horseback upon a gray mare,
The mare it was black, but the divil a hair
But what was all yaller, upon the gray mare.

There was the King, the Queen and a couple of more,
A riding on horseback, a walking before;
The bells did ring and the people did stare,
To see a coach and six horses drawn by a gray mare.

It rained and it snowed, I stood out in the storm,
With my hat in my hand to keep my head warm.
The mare threw me into the ditch, but I mounted again,
And on my tiptoes rode o'er the plain.

I'll saddle the mare and to fishing I'll go,
To fishing I'll go whether or no.
If my wagon upsets and my fish it would spill,
I'll sell the gray mare, I'll be damned if I will.

H. DE MARSAN
DEALER IN SONGS TOY BOOKS &C.
No 54 CHATHAM. ST N.Y.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD GRAY MARE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 03:02 PM

Here's another version from the same collection:

THE OLD
GRAY MARE.

As Sung Originally by W. B. Cavanagh, Comedian, at Barnum's Museum.

As I was a going to Nottingham fair,
A riding on horseback upon a gray mare,
Her color 'twas black, but the divil a hair
But what was all yaller, upon my gray mare,

My baste she stood still an' pitched me into the 'ditch
My skin she did dirty, my clothes she did bruise,
But I scalded my saddle, an' I mounted again,
And on my tip-toes I rode over the plain.

But when I got there not a soul could I see,
The streets were a crowded a gazing at me;
The bells they did ring, an' the people did stare
For to see a coach an' six horses drawn by a gray mare.

There was the king, an' the Queen and a company more,
A riding on horseback, an' a walking before;
There stood a great drummer a bating the drum,
With his heels in his pockets before me did run.

Then it snowed, an' it blowed, an' it rained, an' I stood in the storm,
With my hat in my hand for to keep my head warm.
I axed Madam Paul if she'd fancy me now
As well as the day that I came from the plough.

Then I'll take my black horse, an' a fishing I'll go,
An' a fishing I'll go whether or no.
My fish it turned over, an' my wagon did spill,
I'll sell my gray mare--I'll be damned if I will.

H. DE MARSAN.
DEALER in SONGS TOY BOOKS &C.
No. 54 CHATHAM ST. N.Y.

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: dulcimerjohn
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 03:46 PM

Only versions I know are Jean's and Fairport's..Jean also does an old (probably Childe) 'old grey mare'..dulcimerjohn

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 03:51 PM

I asked Ewan MacColl about this song. He said he thought it was about ritual and magic and the festival of fools.

he added the Hunchback of Notre dame was very good about the festival of fools.

I never read it. I'm just passing on his ideas.

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: GUEST,Steve Gardham
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 04:32 PM

Paddy Backwards is probably the most common title for this nonsense song, a very common genre of song in previous centuries.

All of these titles are used and they should be considered all one song.
Adam Ham Town
Crazy Song
Paddy's Ramble to London
Nottamun Town
I'm going up to London
Noddingham Town
The Lying Song
Fair Notamon
Fair Notamun Town
Fair Nottiman Town
Notamun Town
Nottaman Town
Nottingham Fair
Old Gray mare

Found on both sides of the Atlantic all of these versions seem to derive from the Pitts broadside 'Paddy's Ramble to London' of which unfortunately I haven't got a copy, but the first line is 'Said Paddy, In Ireland no longer I'd stay'. If anyone has a copy of the broadside text I'd certainly like to see it. Roud number BTW is 1044.

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: Darowyn
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 11:01 AM

I think that the salmon were "as big as an ell" or in modern terms, as long as your arm.
The old way of measuring cloth was to stretch it between arms length and your nose. The Anglo Saxon for arm is "ell" (hence "elbow" -the bend in the arm) so before yardsticks were standardised, you would buy cloth by the ell (from the most gorilla-like draper you could find)
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: Goose Gander
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 05:32 PM

This one from American Memory seems to be a variation of Nottamun Town . . .

THAT AWKWARD OLD SONG

Bill Jackson
Arvin, 1941

I went to the barn my steers to feed
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I went to the barn my steers to feed
I fed 'em my saddle, hung up the feed
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

I rode into town, walked all of the way
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I rode into town, walked all of the way
I was stifled on dust for it rained all that day
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

Met the king and the queen, their company was mine
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
Met the king and the queen, their company was mine
A-riding on horseback, a-leadin' behind
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

It rained and it hailed, it blew a great storm
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
It rained and it hailed, it blew a great storm
Kept my hat on my arm to keep my head warm
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

I rode the gray mare with a crease down her back
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I rode the gray mare with a crease down her back
Not a hair on her that wasn't coal black
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

I rode into town, not a soul did I see
-Did ever you near that awkward old song?
I rode into town, not a soul did I see
Ten thousand people was gazing at me
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

The Roud Index lists it as 1706, with which I would disagree. Bill Jackson himself in the same collection sings Little Fat Boy/When I Was A Little Boy as Fast as I Could Wad which is much more obviously a variant of Roud 1706.

Or so it seems to me.

But I'm to Easter celebrations with the family now!

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: Goose Gander
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 03:59 PM

To hear Nottamun Town sung by Jean Richie, click here and scroll down (track #16).

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: Goose Gander
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 05:07 PM

Adam Ham Town as sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on August 8, 1969.

I'm on my way for Adam Ham town
Foot or horse back or on a gray mare
With a blaze down 'er face an' streak down 'er back
Wasn't a hair on 'er but what was cold black

She bucked an' she pitched an' she throwed me in th ditch
Dirtyed my clothes an' tore up my skin
From th stirrups to th saddle I mounted her again
With my ten toes I rode 'er on th plain

Met th thief an' th company to
Ridin before an' leadin behind
Stark naked drummer, beatin his drum
With his heels in his pockets, before he run

I asked 'im th place that I didn't know where
Made 'im so mad he scarcely looked down
It made 'im so mad he scarcely looked down
But he told me th way for Adam Ham town

When I got there not a soul could I see
Streets were as crowed, laughin at me
Laughin and funin an' make'n their games
My shoes were wore out an' my feet was lame

Set myself down on a hot brimstone
Ten thousand gathered 'round me, I found myself alone
It rained and it hailed an' it came a great storm
Killed ten thousand that never was born

So loaded up my wagon, fish'n I'll go
Yes, I will, yes I will, ruther or no
My wagon turned over my fish got spilled
Kill th ole gray mare, yes I will

From the Max Hunter collection.

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: pavane
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 03:26 AM

Here is a link to the Pitt broadside mentioned above (Bodleian Ballad library).

Paddys Ramble (to London)

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 03:29 PM

Thanks Pavane,
Must have missed it when the website was first published.

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 06:17 PM

Having looked closely at the broadside 'Paddy's Ramble' and about a dozen versions of Nottamun Town, all they have in common is a stanza and a half (excepting Frank Purslow's collated version in The Foggy Dew). My considered opinion is that the Pitts broadside has taken these stanzas from an oral version of 'Nottamun Town' which is earlier, at least 18thc. The main clincher is 'Nottamun Town' is just a collection of nonsense without much of a story whereas in 'Paddy's Ramble' the plot is quite strong, being about his amorous wanderings in England in search of a rich wife and the verses interpolated from NT are quite extraneous to this plot. The style of nonsense in each song is the same which is possibly why they have become crossed. The only record therefore I have of any oral tradition of 'Paddy's Ramble' is the fragments cobbled together by Frank Purslow. Malcolm, we need to go back to the mss again on this one. I fear Frank's been up to his old tricks again!

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: GUEST,Kevin W. aka Reynard the Fox on Youtube
Date: 24 Jun 25 - 04:06 PM

I recently transcribed a few traditional versions of "Nottamun Town" (Roud 1044) and the related song "Paddy Backwards" (Roud 1687).

"Paddy Backwards" was given a different Roud number from "Nottamun Town" but at least in the texts from recent oral tradition known to me they appear to be variants of the same song, having many verses in common. Paddy Backwards was collected under that title mainly in Canada while Nottamun / Nottingham Town was collected in the USA. American Broadsides and Songsters titled it "The Grey Mare". The lone fragment recorded in Dorset, England from Gypsy singer "Queen" Caroline Hughes mentions Paddy in the chorus and has lines in common with Charles Ingenthron's "Nottingham Fair" from Missouri.

------------------------------------------------------------

Nottamun Town - Sung by Jean Ritchie of Viper, Kentucky, USA. Recorded by Alan Lomax on May 5, 1949 at Alan Lomax's apartment, 3rd Street, New York City, New York, USA.

Notes by Kevin W.:
The Ritchie family version of this nonsense song of English origin was first collected by Cecil Sharp at the Hindman Settlement School in Knott County, Kentucky on September 20, 1917 from the singing of Jean's sister Una Ritchie who was a student there and their cousin Sabrina Ritchie.

Nottamun is a phonetic corruption of Nottingham, as can be seen in broadside prints and other traditional texts collected in America.

Jean learned the song from 'Uncle' Jason Ritchie, who was actually one of Balis Ritchie's first cousins. Originally one of her verses was incomplete:

...
I bought me a quart to drive gladness away
And to stifle the dust, for it rained the whole day.

In later years Jean completed this verse by adding following lines:

They laughed and they smiled, not a soul did look gay
They talked all the while, not a word did they say

She also made other minor changes to the words such as changing "I rode a grey horse that was called a grey mare" to "I rode a grey horse, a mule roany mare". She copyrighted the song with these changes in 1964 as a reaction to Bob Dylan using her family tune for his song "Masters of War" without giving her credit on his album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" in 1963.

On the 1954 LP "Kentucky Mountain Songs" Elektra EKL-25 Jean sings the original version. And on the 1965 LP "A Time for Singing" Warner Bros. Records WS 1592 she sings the new version. The recording made by Alan Lomax in 1949 is the earliest sound recording of Jean Ritchie's Nottamun Town known to me.

Song transciption (of the 1949 recording):

In Nottamun Town not a soul would look up
Not a soul would look up, not a soul would look down
Not a soul would look up, not a soul would look down
To show me the way to Nottamun Town.

I rode a grey horse that was called a grey mare
Grey mane and grey tail, a green stripe down her back
Grey mane and grey tail, green stripe down her back
There wa'nt a hair on her be-what was coal black.

She stood so still, she threw me to the dirt.
She bruised my hide and bruised my shirt
From stirrup to saddle I mounted again
And on my ten toes I rode over the plain.

Met the King and the Queen, and a company more
A-marching behind and a-marching before
Come a stark naked drummer a-beating the drum
With his hands in his bosom come marching along.

When I got to fair Nottamun Town
Not a soul would look up, not a soul would look down
Not a soul would look up, not a soul would look down
To show me the way to Nottamun Town.

...
I bought me a quart to drive gladness away
And to stifle the dust, for it rained the whole day.

Sat down on a hard, hot cold frozen stone,
Ten thousand stood around me, yet I was alone
Ten thousand got drownded that never was born,
Took my hat in my hands for to keep my head warm.

The recording can be listened to here:
https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/jean-ritchie-1949-and-1950/jean-ri

I also uploaded it to Youtube for easier access:
https://youtu.be/7chaUUDf1ec

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Fair Nottalin Town - Sung by Beckham Ritchie of Carrie, Kentucky, USA. Recorded by George Foss and Roger D. Abrahams in August 1962. Printed in "Foss & Abrahams: Kentucky Folklore Record 14:4 (1968) pp.88-91".

Note by Kevin W.:
I wish I could tell you how Beckham Ritchie and Jean Ritchie are related. I discovered the recording on a tape of Kentucky Folk Songs George Foss sent to Dr Kenneth S. Goldstein, a folklorist at the University of Pennsylvania. Sadly I have no more information on the singer, "Kentucky Folklore Record, Volume 14, No. 4" is available at Amazon but with the current situation I don't want to order a book from the US to Europe.

Song transciption:

As I went down to Fair Nottalin Town
They all were so mad, not a soul would look down
They all were so mad, not a soul would look down
To show me the way to Fair Nottalin Town

I sat down on a red hot cold frozen stone
Ten thousand was round me but yet I was alone
Ten thousand was round me noone could I see
Ten thousand was round me a-gazing at me

I rode the old grey horse they called a grey mare
With a white mane and tail and a green list down her back
There wa'nt a hair on her be-what was coal black

I met a king and a queen and a company more
Riding behind and walking before
A stark naked drummer came beating his drum
With his heels in his bosom came marching along

I bought me a quart to drive sadness away
To stiffle the dust but it rained the whole day
My hat in my hand to keep my head warm
Ten thousand was drownded that never was born

The recording can be listened to here:
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/kgreels_unk/397/

It starts at the 3 minute mark.

I also uploaded it to Youtube for easier access:
https://youtu.be/nGOTtXvhMao
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Adam Ham Town - Sung by Ollie Gilbert of Mountain View, Arkansas, USA. Recorded by Max Hunter on August 8, 1969. Cat. #0824 (MFH #17).

Song transcription:

I'm on my way for Adam Ham town
Foot or horse back or on a gray mare
With a blaze down her face and streak down her back
Wasn't a hair on her but what was coal black

She bucked and she pitched and she throwed me in the ditch
Dirtied my clothes and tore my skin
From the stirrups to the saddle I mounted her again
With my ten toes I rode her on the plain

Met the thief and the company too
Riding before and leading behind
A stark naked drummer a-beating his drum
With his heels in his pockets, before them he run

I asked him the place that I didn't know where
Made him so mad that he scarcely looked down
It made him so mad that he scarcely looked down
But he told me the way for Adam Ham town

When I got there not a soul could I see
Streets was crowed, laughing at me
Laughing and funing and making their game
My shoes were wore out and my feet was lame

Set myself down on a hot brimstone
Ten thousand gathered around me, I found myself alone
It rained and it hailed and it came a great storm
Killed ten thousand that never was born

So loaded up my wagon, fishing I'll go
Yes, I will, yes, I will, rudder or no
My wagon turned over my fish got spilled
Kill the old gray mare, yes I will

The recording can be listened to here:
https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=824

I also uploaded it to Youtube for easier access:
https://youtu.be/swThQm99CII

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Nottingham Fair - Sung by Charles William Ingenthron at Walnut Shade, Taney, Missouri, USA. Recorded by Vance Randolph in 1941. From the LP "Anglo-American Songs and Ballads" (1947) The Library Of Congress - AAFS L20.

The song comes to the United States from eighteenth-century England.

Song transcription:

As I was a-riding[*] to Nottingham Fair,
A-riding on horseback all on a gray mare,
With a white tail and mane and a streak down her back
But darn' a hair on her but what was coal black.

My mare she stood still, threw me off in the ditch,
My skin she did dab and my shirt she did bruise;
With my foot in my stirrup I mounted again
And on my ten toes rode over the plain.

I met a king and a queen and a company more,
All riding on horseback, all walking before,
With a stark naked drummer a-beating the drum,
With his heels in his pockets before them did run.

I pulled my head off, the majest' to greet,
I asked him the road though I knew not the place,
But with gladness he could scarcely look down
To tell me the road to fair Nottingham Town.

When I came into town not a soul could I see,
Though the streets were all lined a-gazing at me;
I set myself down on a hot frozen stone,
Ten thousand around me, and me all alone.

I called for a glass to drive gladness away,
I stifled with dust though it rained all the day,
It rained and it hailed and I stood in the storm
With my hat in my hand to keep my head warm.

* Mr Ingenthron, the singer, made the error in the first line
of singing "a-riding" which should be "a-walking" to correspond
with other opposites throughout the song.

The recording can be listened to here:
https://youtu.be/iDD_cqCBByY

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Nottingham Fair (Parody) - Sung by a nameless gentleman in Stone County, Missouri, June 30, 1940. He stated it was a parody, "made up by local boys who had heard him sing the song properly". Collected by Vance Randolph and printed in "Unprintable Ozark Folksongs and Folklore" (1992).

Note by Kevin W.:
I'd wager a guess that it was Mr Charles Ingenthron who shared this parody with Vance Randolph. I hope it won't offend anyone, for the sake of completeness I felt I should share the text here.

As I was a-walkin' to Nottingham Fair,
I seen a fair damsel all on a gray mare,
With her a** painted blue and a bull on her back,
A bundle of fodder was stuck in her crack.

And there was the king and a company more,
A-riding on horseback all walkin' before,
A stark-naked drummer a-beating the drum,
With his heels in his a**-hole before them did run.

The mare throwed the damsel right off in the ditch,
So I out with old doogey an' mounted the b*tch,
She drawed back her foot an' kicked me in the shin,
Before I got on I was off her ag'in.

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Nottingham Town - Sung by Phydella Hogan of Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. Recorded by Jim Bob Wheeler for Mary Celestia Parler on June 12, 1960. Ozark Folksong Collection (Univ. of Arkansas) reel 376 item 4.

Song transcription:

As I went down to fair Nottingham Town,
A-riding on horseback on my daddy's gray mare
With a white tail and mane and list on her back
And not a hair on him but what was coal black.

A stark naked drummer a-beating his drum
With his heels in his pockets before them did run;
It made him so mad that he scarcely looked down,
But I asked him the way to fair Nottingham Town.

When I got there not a soul could I see,
The streets were all crowded though looking at me
I sat down upon a hot frozen stone
Ten thousand around me and me all alone.

The recording can be listened to here:
https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1907/rec

I also uploaded it to Youtube for easier access:
https://youtu.be/0RPGa5zz28M

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That Awkward Old Song - Sung by Lum Wilson "Bill" Jackson at Arvin FSA Camp, Bakersfield, California, USA. Additional verses by Myra and Frank Pipkin. Recorded by Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin on August 12, 1941. Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Workers Collection (AFC 1985/001).

Song transcription:

I went to the barn my steers to feed
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I went to the barn my steers to feed
I fed 'em my saddle, hung up the feed
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

I rode into town, walked all of the way
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I rode into town, walked all of the way
I was stifled on dust for it rained all that day
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

Met the king and the queen, their company was mine
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I met the king and the queen, their company was mine
A-riding on horseback, a-leadin' behind
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

It rained and it hailed, it blew a great storm
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
It rained and it hailed, it blew a great storm
Kept my hat on my arm to keep my head warm
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

I rode the gray mare with a crease down her back
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I rode the gray mare with a crease down her back
Not a hair on her that wasn't coal black
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

I rode into town, not a soul did I see
-Did ever you near that awkward old song?
I rode into town, not a soul did I see
Ten thousand people was gazing at me
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.

The recording can be listened to here:
https://www.loc.gov/item/toddbib000245/

I also uploaded it to Youtube for easier access:
https://youtu.be/_yNliprycR0

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Paddy Backwards - Sung by Leo O' Brien of Labrador City, Newfoundland, Canada. Recorded by Prof Kenneth S. Goldstein on November 30, 1983.

Note by Kevin W.:
It's interesting to me that Leo O' Brien prefaced the song with the same story that Senator H. H. Smith used before singing it in Knott County, Kentucky, about 1910. Apparently there was a widespread tradition of introducing the song with such a story.

Song transcription:

The title of this song is "Paddy Backwards", that means there's not a word of truth in it. There's a little story that goes with the song, before I sing it.

Many years ago there was a man, he committed a crime against the law, but it wasn't a very serious crime. But nevertheless he was sent to the court. The magistrate said to him just before the court closed, "Can you sing, sir?". "No", he said, "sir, I never sang a verse of a song in my life." The magistrate said, "Can you compose poetry?". "No", he said, "sir, I never composed a word of poetry in my life."

Then the magistrate said, "You go home now, and you compose four or five verses of poetry with not a word of truth in it, and put a tune to it, and come back tomorrow and sing it, and if it's proven that there's no truth in it you'll be set free."

So the man went home, took his pen and paper and this is what he composed.

As I was a-riding up George's town square
All on a horseback a bonny brown mare
A white tail, a green mane, a hump on her back
And not a hair on her but that wasn't jet black

My horse standing still threw me off in the dirt
He smeared up my body and bruised my white shirt
My two feet in the stirrups were standing so gay
And on my nine toes I went marching away

Now as I sat down on a hot frozen stone
Ten thousand around me and I all alone
I saw three pretty fair maids a-making their hay
In the middle of the winter one fine summer's day

Oh it's home to old England I'll carry my bride
A ship on dry land with a fair wind and tide
And when I get home in the place I was born
I'll buy her a silver cup made of cow-horn

The recording can be listened to here:
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/kgreels_can/137/

It starts at the 35:40 minute mark.

I also uploaded it to Youtube for easier access:
https://youtu.be/9gzfHaHv2sg

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Paddy Backwards - Sung by Alexander N. March of Port au Port, Newfoundland, Canada. Recorded by MacEdward Leach in 1950.

Song transcription:

As I was a-driving down Market town fair
A-riding on horseback a bonny grey mare
Short tail and a white mane and a hump on her back
And not a hair on her but that wasn't jet black

My horse standing still threw me off in the dirt
He dirtied my body and bruised all my shirt
And into my saddle my stirrups so gay
And on my ten toes I went jogging away

It rained and it blowed and I stood in the storm
My hat in my hand to keep my head warm
I took a glass of strong grape juice to drive gladness away
To stiffen the dirt for it rained the whole day

As I was a-driving up fair James's park
In the middle of noon one night it was dark
I met a man he was all dressed in green
Black pants and white waistcoat twas plain to be seen

Oh, it's home to old England I'll carry my bride
With a ship on dry land and a fair wind and a tide
And when I gets back in the place I was born
I'll buy a new silver cup made of cow-horn

As I was a driving down up market one day
I saw three pretty fair maids a-making of hay
I saw three pretty fair maids a-making of hay
In the middle of winter one fine summer's day

A one-legged drummer was beating his drum
With his heels in his pockets up to me he did run
He turned his back to me stared me in the face
And asked me the way as if I did know the place

The recording can be listened to here:
https://mmap.mun.ca/folk-songs-of-atlantic-canada/performances/336

I also uploaded it to Youtube for easier access:
https://youtu.be/I852qXP1F_M

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All You Paddies Lay Down - Sung by "Queen" Caroline Hughes, a Gypsy woman of Bere Regis, Dorset, England. Recorded by Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker c.1962.

Song transcription:

Oh, as I went to market, I vow and declare,
As I went to market, 'twas all on a cow;
The cow was so lazy she chucked on me arm,
She dirtied my shoes and she dirtied my clothes,
And sing ay, ay; sing ay to myself,
Oh 'tis ay, oh you paddies, lay down.

I looked all up to my magistrate well,
I asked him the place if he knowed it quite well.
When he got there, nothing could he see,
But thousand potatoes growing on a pear tree
And sing down, down; sing down, down;
Sing down, all you paddies, lay down.

Recorded again by Peter Kennedy for the BBC in 1968:

Oh, as I went to market, 'twas on an old cow,
As I went to market, I vow and declare;
Now she tossed me off and she dirtied my shoes,
She dirtied my clothes and she dirtied my boots,
And sing down, down; down, down;
Sing down, all you paddies, lay down.

Oh when I got there, but nothing could I see,
Only thousand potatoes growing on a pear tree
And sing down, day; sing down, day;
Sing down, all my paddies, lay down.

I answered now up to my magistrate well,
He asked me the place if he knowed it quite well.
He said when I got there, but nothing could he see,
But thousand potatoes growing on a pear tree
And sing down, down; sing down, down;
Sing down, all you paddies, lay down.

The MacColl, Seeger, Parker recording from 1962 can be listened to here:
https://youtu.be/omFIn6fRdDM

The Peter Kennedy recording from 1968 can be listened to here:
https://youtu.be/mPlKw6Wv8-s

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Black Phyllis - Here's an intriguing ballad fragment from the book "Folk-Songs of the South", Harvard University Press. Cambridge, 1925, p.215, by John Harrington Cox. Professor Cox noted the song from Mrs Florence Crane of Morgantown, West Virginia, USA in July 1916. Mrs Crane learned the song from her mother, who learned it about forty years before from a very old washerwoman.

And then came Black Phyllis, his charger astride,
And took away Annie, his unwilling bride.
It rained, it hailed, and I sat and cried,
And wished that my Annie that day had then died.

And then came her true-love from over the moor,
And left them a-cursing his cross on the door.
It rained, it hailed, I waited no more;
I knew that my Annie he soon would restore.

He fell on Black Phyllis with wild lion's roar;
They fought and they struggled for hour after hour.
It rained, it hailed, though wounded and sore,
He left Phyllis a-dead on the moor.

Then swift as a bird to his true-love he fled,
Found the cabin in ashes, the ground all a-red.
It rained, it hailed, though swift he had fled,
He found he was too late; his Annie was dead.

Calling the song related to "Nottamun Town" would be a stretch, but I was reminded of it by the third line of each verse.
It certainly could be sung to Jean Ritchie's Nottamun Town tune. No tune for "Black Phyllis" was noted and this appears to be the only time the ballad was found.

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Nottamon Fair - Heard sung by Josiah Combs, when a boy in Knott County, Kentucky, about 1910, by his cousin Senator H. H. Smith. Combs, in a letter to Vance Randolph dated September 1959, recollects fifty years later "what Sen. Smith said about the song: That a man had been sentenced to the gallows--but that if he could compose a song, all of which was contradictory he would be freed; and he made this song," entitled "Fair Nottamon (Nottingham) Town." In 1:2, stone horse, a stallion; in 2:2, shire, or share (as in ploughshare), the pelvic or pubic bone.

Collected by Vance Randolph and printed in "Unprintable Ozark Folksongs and Folklore" (1992).

Note by Kevin W.:
This very full text came from Knott County, Kentucky and agrees with the Ritchie family version in many points. For that reason I felt it was worth sharing here.

As I went down to Nottamon fair
I rode a (stone) horse they called the gray mare;
She had a green list down her back
(She had a white mane and tail),
And there wasn't a hair but what was coal black.

She stood still, (but) she threw me in the mud,
She daubed my hiee (eye) and bruised my shire,
From saddle to stirrup I mounted her again,
And on my ten toes rode over the plain.

I met the king and the queen and a company more,
A-riding behind and walking before,
And a stark-naked drummer a-beating his drum,
With his heels in his a** (pockets) a-marching along.

I asked them the way to fair Nottamon town,
They were so mad not a soul look-ed down--
They were so mad not a soul look-ed down
To tell me the way to fair Nottamon town.

When I got there, no one could I see,
They all stood around a-looking at me;
I called for a quart to drive gladness away,
To stifle the dust--it had rained the whole day.

I sat on a cold (hot) frozen stone,
Ten thousand standing 'round me, yet I was alone;
Ten thousand got drowned before they were born,
I took my hat in my hand for to keep my head warm.

Then I'll take my black horse and a-fishing I'll go,
A-fishing I'll go, whether or no;
My fish they turned over, my wagon did spill--
I'll sell my gray mare?--I'll be damned if I will!

The first girl I have, it shall be a boy,
Returned to the house of my first joy;
The first house I live in, it shall be a hog-pen,
And what-in-the-hell will become of me then?

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And that's all from me for now. I hope someone finds it interesting or useful.

-Kevin W.

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: GUEST,Kevin W. aka Reynard the Fox on Youtube
Date: 24 Jun 25 - 04:26 PM

Once again I forgot to say, and I'm sorry about that, the transcription of "Queen" Caroline Hughes' text I provided came from a recording made by Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker in 1963. It was included in MacColl and Seeger's book "Travellers' Songs From England and Scotland - Songs collected in 1962-1976" from 1977 which had been reissued as a CD together with the original field recordings by Musical Traditions in 2015.

The later Peter Kennedy recording was made in Caroline Hughes' caravan near Blandford, Dorset on April 19, 1968 and was released on an album called "Songs of the Travelling People - Music of the Tinkers, Gipsies and Other Travelling People of England, Scotland and Ireland" (1994) Saydisc Records CD-SDL 407.

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 25 Jun 25 - 03:22 PM

That's a useful collection of versions, Kevin. Many thanks.

Subject: RE: Origins: Nottamun Town
From: GUEST,Kevin W. aka Reynard the Fox on Youtube
Date: 27 Jun 25 - 09:11 AM

Steve,
Is the text of "Paddy's Ramble (to London)" available online? It'd be interesting for me to see which verses in field recorded texts descended from it.

Teague's Ramble can be seen here:
https://mudcat.org/olson/SONGTXT1.html#TEGRMBL

The American "The Old Gray Mare" broadsides I've seen look like they were taken from existing traditional versions, they're lacking verses and expressions found in some of the field recorded texts such as the "I pulled my head off, the majest' to greet" from Charles Ingenthron in Missouri. And the Canadian texts make no mention of Nottingham and have some unique verses of their own.

Do you think they all go back to "Paddy's Ramble"? Could there be another British broadside that mentions Nottingham? At least it'd make sense to me since so many US texts mention Nottingham. This is me assuming "Paddy's Ramble" is set entirely in London without having seen the text.

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A detail worth mentioning (I forgot) above is that Beckham Ritchie in Carrie, Kentucky, in 1962 introduced Fair Nottalin Town by saying:

"If a man would make a song with never a word of truth in it they would free him, he was sentenced to die."

It further connects the Ritchie family version with the one Senator H. H. Smith sung in Knott County, Kentucky, about 1910. It seems there was a common tradition of prefacing the song with this story.

I also forgot to mention above that Vance Randolph recorded Charles W. Ingenthron at Walnut Shade, Taney, Missouri in September 1941. That's when he sang Nottingham Fair as it appears on the 1947 LP "Anglo-American Songs and Ballads" The Library Of Congress - AAFS L20.

Try as I might, sometimes I forget things or make mistakes and don't notice it until after posting.