Lyr Req: Sedgefield Fair

Subject: Old Mule/Sedgefield Fair
From:
Date: 02 Jun 97 - 06:22 PM

I'm looking for lyrics and hopefully recordings to two songs. One song, "Old Mule" appeared on a Seventies collection called "A Bushel Basket of 5-String Banjos". It begins, "Old mule, you're the son of a donkey, and I'm in the image of God . . ."

The other song, "Sedgefield Fair" may be an Anglo-Irish tune. I heard it on the radio. It begins, "Old Dickey Thompson he had a gray mare/and he took it away to Sedgefield Fair . . ."

I'd appreciate any help in locating these tunes.

Subject: Lyr Add: SEDGEFIELD FAIR (from R. Palmer)
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 05:34 AM

SEDGEFIELD FAIR
(From: R. Palmer, Book of English Country Songs)

Owd Dickie Thompson 'e 'ad a grey mare,
E' took 'er away to Sedgefield Fair.
'E browt 'er back, oh, yis, 'e did,
Because 'e 'adn't a farthin' bid.

Ch: Singing titi fa lerie, fire up Mary, up to the jigs of Sedgefield Fair.

Now he turned her away into Wragby Wood,
He thowt his owd mare might deea some good;
But seh ran her owd heead right intiv a tree:
'Gor dang'; said Dick, 't'owd mare 'll dee.

Now he browt some hay all in a scuttle;
Her poor owd belly began to ruttle.
He browt her some corn all in a sieve:
'Gor dang', says Dick, 't'owd mare'll live.

Now he took her away into t' field to ploo,
To see what good his owd mare could do.
But at ivvery end she let a great fart:
'Gor dang', says Dick, we'll ploo till dark.

Now all his sheep got intiv his fog
And he sent away home for t' black and white dog;
And at ivverv end he gave a great shout,
Was: Get away by 'em and fetch 'em out.

Then all his hens got intiv his corn
And he swore he would shoot 'em as sure as he's born;
So he got his owd gun and he squinted and squared,
But he missed t' owd hens and shot his grey mare.

I took the spelling as I found it in the book. I know I have the song on record or tape and I'll add later information on that.

Regards, Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Old Mule/Sedgefield Fair
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 06:42 AM

The song Sedgefield Fair is on the LP "Green Fields" from The Watersons. No idea whether it is still available or reissued on CD.

Yours Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Old Mule/Sedgefield Fair
From: Gene Graham
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 11:31 AM

The version of CONVERSATION WITH A MULE that I have was recorded by Arthur Smith - of DUELING BANJOs fame...and GUITAR BOOGIE! - to name a few!

If no one else posts them, I will later.

Subject: RE: Old Mule/Sedgefield Fair
From: Gene Graham
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 08:14 PM

See separate post: LYR ADD: CONVERSATION WITH A MULE