DESCRIPTION:
This rather surrealistic nonsense song probably dates from the late medieval period in England. The title probably refers to Nottingham. There are various theories about its origins. One is that it was inspired by the English Civil Wars of 1642-51, or possibly by the Great Plague. More likely is the suggestion that it may have been a "magic song" used in a mummers' play. There are many traditional English songs which use the same kind of topsy-turvy imagery, such as "Teague's Ramble", "Tom Tell-truth", "The Gray Mare" and "A Shoulder of Mutton Jumped Over From France".

Though it was largely forgotten in England, it was preserved in the USA in the Appalachian mountains, especially by the Ritchie family of Kentucky who migrated from the UK from 1768, bringing many old songs with them. Jean Ritchie copyrighted it in 1964 after changing some of the words, such as replacing "that was called a grey mare" with "mule roany mare" and completing an unfinished verse with the lines "They laughed and they smiled, not a soul did look gay; / They talked all the while, not a word did they say."

It was collected in Knott County, Kentucky, by Cecil Sharp in about 1917, from the singing of Jean's sister, Una.

It has been recorded by many artists, including Barry McGuire, Sandy Denny, Shirley Collins and Davy Graham, Bert Jansch and Fairport Convention.

Bob Dylan used the melody for his 1963 song "Masters of War", which was included on his album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan".

Lyrics and chords:
Dm
In fair 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,
........ F ................. C ............. Dm
To show me the way to fair Nottamun town.

I rode a grey horse, a mule roany mare,
Grey mane and a grey tail, a green stripe down her back,
Grey mane and a grey tail, a green stripe down her back,
There weren't a hair on her but what was coal black.

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

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

They laughed and they smiled; not a soul did look gay,
They talked all the while, not a word they did say.
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 round me, yet I was alone.
Took my hat in my hands for to keep my head warm.
Ten thousand got drownded that never was born.


Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found here: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com