Part 8 (1/2)

As I was going to Derby, sir, All on a market day, I met the finest ram, sir, That ever was fed upon hay.

Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day, Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.

This ram was fat behind, sir, This ram was fat before, This ram was ten yards high, sir, Indeed he was no more.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The wool upon his back, sir, Reached up unto the sky, The eagles made their nests there, sir, I heard the young ones cry.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The wool upon his belly, sir, It dragged upon the ground, It was sold in Derby town, sir, For forty thousand pound.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The s.p.a.ce between his horns, sir, Was as far as a man could reach, And there they built a pulpit, sir, For the parson there to preach.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The teeth that were in his mouth, sir, Were like a regiment of men, And the tongue that hung between them, sir, Would have dined them twice and again.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

This ram jumped o'er a wall, sir, His tail caught on a briar, It reached from Derby town, sir, All into Leicesters.h.i.+re.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

And of this tail so long, sir, 'Twas ten miles and an ell, They made a goodly rope, sir, To toll the market bell.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

This ram had four legs to walk, sir, This ram had four legs to stand, And every leg he had, sir, Stood on an acre of land.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The butcher that killed this ram, sir, Was drowned in the blood, And all the good people of Derby, sir, Were carried away in the flood.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

All the maids in Derby, sir, Came begging for his horns, To take them to the cooper's, sir, To make them milking gawns.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The little boys of Derby, sir, They came to beg his eyes, To kick about the streets, sir, For they were football size.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The tanner that tanned his hide, sir, Would never be poor any more, For when he had tanned and stretched it, sir, It covered all Sinfin Moor.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

Indeed, sir, this is true, sir, I never was taught to lie, And had you been to Derby, sir, You'd have seen it, as well as I.

Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day, Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.

p.u.s.s.y

Jack Sprat had a cat, It had but one ear; That he cut off, And made small beer.