Musicroom – Sing Derby Lyrics

The Derby Ram

1. As I was going to Derby, Sir,
All on a market day,
I met the finest Ram, Sir,
That ever was fed on hay.
Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day,
Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.

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

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

4. The space between his horns, Sir,
Was as far as a man could reach,
And there they built a pulpit
For the Parson there to preach.
Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day,
Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.

5. This Ram had four legs to walk on, Sir,
This Ram had four legs to stand,
And every leg he had, Sir,
Stood on an acre of land.
Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day,
Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.

6. The Butcher that killed this Ram, Sir,
Was drownded in the blood,
And the boy that held the pail, Sir,
Was carried away in the flood.
Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day,
Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.

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

8. 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.

Llewellynn Jewitt

Notes on The Derby Ram:
“The traditional folk song, The Derby Ram, began life in the 16th Century and told the amusing story of an unfeasibly large sheep!  Sheep were introduced to the region in the New Stone Age, and became the foundation of local farming – later providing the raw materials of wool and leather for the industries on which the local towns were based.  The symbol of the ram is the emblem of the city and county councils, the Derbyshire Regiment, and Derby County FC amongst others.”