Help dredging up old memories of a song.

[Achava Nakhash, the Loving Snake]

Hi,

During my childhood, many long years ago, I remember liking a song
that I think started, "Down along, down along, down along day." At
some point, I think near the end of the chorus, there was a list of
men's names spoken followed by a couple that were song and then,
"..and all." I believe it was sung by Burl Ives. I believe that this
list of men disappeared. I also remember that during the early
seventies, I was told that a science fiction story had been written
based on this song, and which gave an explanation of the events
described in the song. It was presumably an English folk song,
although it might have been American.

Can anybody come up with the name of this song and hopefully even the
lyrics?

Thanks,
Achava

[carlbaron]

Achava Nakhash, the Loving Snake wrote:
> Hi,
>
> During my childhood, many long years ago, I remember liking a song
> that I think started, "Down along, down along, down along day." At
> some point, I think near the end of the chorus, there was a list of
> men's names spoken followed by a couple that were song and then,

> "..and all." might have been American.

>
> Can anybody come up with the name of this song and hopefully even the
> lyrics?

Searching through my computer copy of the Digital Tradition (online at:
<http://www.mudcat.org/>) for "down along", I came up with:

Tom Pierce (Tam Pearse)

Tom Pierce, Tom Pierce lend me your grey mare
All along, down along out along lee
For I wants for to go to Widdicome Fair
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy
Dan'l Widden, Harry Hall, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all

When will I see again my old grey mare
All along, down along out along lee
By Friday Noon or Saturday soon
With Bill Brewer........

Friday came and Saturday soon
All along, down along out along lee
Tom Pierce's grey mare she ne'er did romp home
With Bill Brewer........

Tom Pierce he went to the top of the hill
All along, down along out along lee
He sees his grey mare there a making her will
With Bill Brewer........

Tom Pierce's grey mare she took sick and died
All along, down along out along lee
Tom Pierce he sat on a stone and he cried
With Bill Brewer........

When the wind whistles cold on the moor of the night
All along, down along out along lee
Tom Pierce's grey mare doth appear ghastly white
With Bill Brewer........

And all the night long you'll hear skirlins and groans
All along, down along out along lee
Tom Peirce's grey mare a rattlin her bones
With Bill Brewer........

Recorded by Burl Ives and many, many others

Carl

[Achava Nakhash, the Loving Snake]

Thank you Carl. This pretty much has to be it.

Achava

[LidsvilleNine]

Whoever posted the lyrics quoted must be DEAF. Here is a much closer
rendition:

WIDDECOMBE FIAR (TAM PIERCE)

Tarn Pierce, Tarn Pierce, lend me your gray mare,
All along down along out along lea.
Us wants to go to Widdecombe Fair,
Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davey,
Daniel Whiddon, Harry Hawk,

Old Uncle Tom Cobbley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobbley and all.

When shall I see again my gray mare ?
All along down along out along lea.
By Friday noon or Saturday soon,
With Bill Brewer, etc.

Then Friday came and Saturday soon, etc.
And Tarn's old mare she ne'er did come home., etc.

So Tam he went to the top of the hill,
And seed his old mare a-making her will.

So Tam Pierce's old mare, she took sick and died,
And Tam he sat down on a stone and he cried.

When the wind whistles cold on the moors at night,
Tarn's old gray mare doth appear ghastly white.

And all the night long be heard skirling and groans,
>From Tarn's old gray mare and her rattling bones.