Lyr Req/Add: Weyhill Fair

Subject: Lyr Req: weyhill fair
From: GUEST,Doxy
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 04:54 PM

I remember hearing this on a Kirkpatrick and Harris album when I was a wee lassie, just after I got my first melodion. For some reason the tune has been running round my head fo the last week, but I can't remember anything more than a couple of lines of the chorus. Can anyone help?
Cheers,
Doxy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: weyhill fair
From: pavane
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:12 PM

I do have the record, SOMEWHERE! If anyone else finds it before me, the feel free. It's on 'The Rose of Britains Isle'

Used to drive through Weyhill sometimes.

'Oh I have been to Weyhill fair
And Oh the sights I did see there
...

I can remember lots of parts of verses, but will leave it until I can find it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: weyhill fair
From: ElwynnMaxon
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:55 PM

Didn't David Jones record this on the album, Easy and Slow?

E.M.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: weyhill fair
From: GUEST, NOMADman
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 10:04 PM

David Jones recorded this on his "Easy and Slow" album on the U.S. Minstrel label. Probably only on LP. John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris had it on their "Rose of Britain's Isle on the U.K. Topic label.

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: weyhill fair
From: pavane
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 03:25 AM

More extracts ( from memory)

This is the second half of a verse:

They come from East, they come from West,
They bring their worst, they bring their best
And some they lead and drive the rest
Unto the fair at Weyhill


This is the second half of another verse

They'll gain or lose an inch or two
Oh yes and this and more they'll do
To find the horse that will suit you
All at the fair at Weyhill







I will post more if I remember it

Subject: Lyr Add: WEYHILL FAIR
From: GUEST,Chris A
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 08:30 AM

I have been singing this song in an around eastbourne for about 2 years now, i learn't it from JK album.

WEYHILL FAIR

It's I have been to Weyhill fair
And oh what sights I did see there
To hear my tale would make you stare
And see the horses showing
They come from east they come from west
They bring their worst they bring their best
And some they drive and lead the rest
Unto the fair at Weyhill

Chorus
Sing fal la la la
Sing fal la la lay
All at the fair at Weyhill

There were blacks and bays and duns and greys
And sorrel horses aye and mares
And piebald too I do declare
And more that I do know on
There were blind and lame and win galled too
Crib biters there were not a few
And roarer's there were one or two
All at the fair at Weyhill

Chorus

All ages there as I'm alive
From one to two to thirty five
And some they scarce could lead or drive
Or on the downs could show them
There were broken winded too I saw
And some for panting scarce could draw
And there were clickers one or two
All at the fair at Weyhill

Chorus

Now some were shown upon the road
And others found upon soft ground
And up the hills their heads were turned
And that's the way to show them
They can gain or lose an inch or two
Oh yes they this and more can do
To find the one that will suit you
All at the fair at Weyhill

Chorus

The dealers through the fair do splash
And swing around a long whiplash
And cry 'my lads come stand a swash'
And that's the way to show them
They crack their whips and curse and swear
And cry my 'my lads be of good cheer
For this my lads is Weyhill fair
Do you like the fair at Weyhill

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: weyhill fair
From: GUEST, NOMADman
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 09:22 PM

Thanks for posting the complete lyrics, Chris A. I had been trying to transcribe them form the Kirkpatrick-Harris record, but could not get a few of the words.

Here are the liner notes from the Kirpatrick and Jones LPs. I found them quite interesting.

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

JK/SH:
The fair at Weyhill, near Andover, Hants, has been held continuously for at least eight hundred years. In the eighteenth century it was one of the greatest horse fairs in the country, and Daniel Defoe wrote about it. Only the words of the ballad survived, so Roy Palmer fitted them to the tune of a comparable Yorkshire song, Shelburn Fair.

DJ:
According to Roy Palmer, who printed Weyhill Fair in hs collection "Room for Company," this fair, near Andover in Hampshire, dates back at least to the eleventh century and is still an annual October event. The song tells of the various strategems used by horse traders to make their merchandise more attractive to prospective buyers. Roy Palmer fitted a tune collected by Frank Kidson to the text.
--------------

Note - I think the Roy Palmer book is probably still in print. I don't have a copy, but if it still is in print it would be available from the usual sources.

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: weyhill fair
From: GUEST,Doxy
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 01:07 PM

Thanks for the help guy's.
Funny seeing the remembered snatches, they were the same bit's Id got left with.
Cheers,
Doxy