The stories La tells....

(another fabulous TEDTalk :P )
David Holt: The stories and song of Appalachia

Folk musician and storyteller David Holt plays the banjo and shares photographs and old wisdom from the Appalachian Mountains. He also demonstrates some unusual instruments like the mouth bow -- and a surprising electric drum kit he calls "thunderwear."
David Holt is also a four-time Grammy Award-winning folk musician.

I decided that by now folks might be ready for me to blog about something other than recycling.
Although I must warn you that I have 3 more recycling blogs in draft form (cue evil laughter) just waiting be unleashed.
But I figured a change would be nice.
So we have The Darby Ram.
Why? Because it's a fun storysong.
And...why not?
(BTW, although this is a great song for kids, there are a few versions or verses that are definitely more for adults, I added a link for one at the end if the blog)

The Darby or Derby Ram was originally an English folk song.
Basically, it tells the story of a humongous ram and the problems of butchering it and other outrageous lies about how large it was.

according to Wiki:
Llewellyn Jewitt wrote about the song in his The Ballads and Songs of Derbyshire of 1867, asserting that song had been alluded to for at least a century before that.
The song and the association of a ram with the town of Derby has been incorporated by a number of groups based there.
The song was also adapted by the English composer John Wall Callcott (1766-1821) into a 3 part glee "As I was going to Derby".

Like many English folk tunes, it made it's way to America and was....Americanized. In other words, we probably forgot all the words or the true meaning of them and just changed it around until it was relevant to our surroundings.
There are so many different versions of the lyrics, and even minor variations in the tune, that it would be impossible to name them all.
What started out as an English folk song became a ragtime classic and even a jazz classic, called "Oh Didn't He Ramble."
(I really like Louie Armstrong's and Harry Connick Jr's versions of "Didn't He Ramble")

I have included four versions of the song here.
And a video of the Darby Ram sung by Mickey and Elizabeth.


The following version is the one transcribed by Llewellynn Jewitt in The Ballads and Songs of Derbyshire (1867).
As I was going to Darby, 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.

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, &c.

The Wool upon his back, Sir,
Reached up unto the sky,
The Eagles made their nests there, Sir,
For I heard the young ones cry.

Daddle-i-day, &c.

The Wool upon his belly, Sir,
It dragged upon the ground,
It was sold in Darby town, Sir,
For forty thousand pound.

Daddle-i-day, &c.

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, &c.

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, &c.

This Ram jumped o'er a wall, Sir,
His tail caught on a briar,
It reached from Darby town, Sir,
All into Leicestershire.

Daddle-i-day, &c.

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, &c.

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, &c.

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, &c.

All the maids in Darby, Sir,
Came begging for his horns,
To take them to coopers,
To make them milking gawns.

Daddle-i-day, &c.

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

Daddle-i-day, &c.

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

Daddle-i-day, &c.

The Jaws that were in his head, Sir,
They were so fine and thin,
They were sold to a Methodist Parson,
For a pulpit to preach in.

Daddle-i-day, &c.

Indeed, Sir, this is true, Sir,
I never was taught to lie,
And had you been to Darby, 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.


THE DARBY RAM
As I went down to Darby, Sir, 'twas on a market day,
I saw the finest ram, Sir, that ever was fed on hay.

Chorus:
And indeed, Sir, 'tis true, Sir, I never was taught to lie,
And if you'd been to Darby, Sir, you'd have seen him the same as I.

He had four feet to walk on, Sir, he had four feet to stand
And every foot he had, Sir, did cover an acre of land.

Repeat Chorus

The horns that grew on his head, Sir, they grew up to the sky,
And eagles built their nests there, for I heard the young ones cry.

Repeat Chorus

The wool that grew on his tail, Sir, filled more than fifty bags,
You'd better keep away, Sir, when that tail shakes and wags.

Repeat Chorus

The tail that hung behind him, was fifty yards and an ell
And that was sent to Darby, to ring the town church bell

Repeat Chorus

The man that killed the ram, Sir, was drowned, Sir, in the flood,
The boy who held the bowl, Sir, was washed away by blood.

Repeat Chorus

The man that owned the ram, Sir, I think is very rich,
And the boy who wrote this song, Sir, is a lying son of a bitch

Repeat Chorus


THE DARBY RAM
As I was going to Darby
Upon a market day,
I saw the biggest ram, sir,
That ever was fed on hay,
That ever was fed on hay.

The ram was fat behind, sir,
The ram was fat before.
He measured ten yards round, sir,
I think it was no more, (twice)

And he who knocked this ram down
Was drowned in the blood,
And he who held the dish, sir,
Was carried away by the flood, (twice)

The wool grew on his back, sir,
It reached to the sky.
And there the eagles built their nests,
I heard the young ones cry. (twice)

And all the boys in Darby, sir,
Came begging for his eyes,
To kick about the street, sir,
As any good football flies, (twice)

The wool grew on his belly, sir,
It reached to the ground.
It was sold in Darby Town, sir,
For forty thousand pound, (twice)

The wool upon his tail, sir,
Filled more than fifty bags.
You'd better keep away, sir,
When that tail shakes and wags, (twice)

The horns upon his head, sir,
As high as a man could reach,
And there they built a pulpit, sir,
The Quakers for to preach, (twice)

And one of this ram's teeth, sir,
Was hollow as a horn;
And when they took its measure, sir,
It held a bushel of corn, (twice)

The mutton that the ram made
Gave the whole Army meat,
And what was left, I'm told, sir,
Was served out to the fleet, (twice)

The man who owned this ram, sir,
Was considered mighty rich,
But the man who told this story, sir,
Was a lyin' son of a------. (twice)


THE DERBY RAM
V1: As I was going to Derby,
Upon a market day,
I saw the biggest ram, sir,
That ever was fed on hay,

Chorus: And didn't he ramble, ramble?
He rambled all round,
In and out of the town,
(Oh) didn't he ramble, ramble?
Well, he rambled ‘til them butchers cut him down.

V2: The wool upon his back, sir,
Was a hundred stories high,
'Twas there the eagles built their nest,
I heard the little ones cry,

(Chorus)

V3: The horns upon his head, sir,
They reached up to the sky,
A man climbed up in January
And didn't come down ‘til July,

Chorus:

V4: The wool upon his tail, sir,
Filled more than fifty bags,
You'd better not stand behind, sir
When that tail shakes and wags,

Chorus:

V5: The butcher that cut him down, sir,
Was drownded (sic) in the blood,
And the little boy
Who held the bowl,
Was washed away in the flood.

Chorus:

Derby Ram @ grandfolkies.com
Derby Ram published in 1867...folkplay.info
A more "adult" version of the Darby Ram can be found at Mudcat.org

So enough about Plastic...let's talk about Paper!
I love making paper with kids. They have a great time and you never know what you will get. Making paper is great for using up the scraps of construction paper, wrapping paper or any kind of paper that is used in the class or at home.
I have included three different vids on papermaking
.
The first is a teacher doing a papermaking demo in class.

The second vid is a very good low tech papermaking vid with kids.

The third vid is a very nicely done slide show about papermaking.

After the vids, I have included a link to papermaking directions and a Yiddish folksong about recycling.







A great site for directions is Learn2 Make Paper ... this site has good pics also.

This Yiddish folksong is the original source for the Tailor Recycling Story in the previous blog.

I HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT
(traditional Yiddish, English by Teddi Schwartz & Arthur Kevess)
(The midi for this song can be found at Mudcat MIDIs )


1.I had a little overcoat, as old as can be
Tralala lalalala lalala
What I'd ever do with it, I just couldn't see
Tralala lalalala lalala
So I thought a little while
And made myself a jacket in the very latest style
Tralalala lalala (2x)
Made a jacket in the very latest style

2. I had a little jacket, it was old as can be
Tralala lalalala lalala
What I'd ever do with it, I just couldn't see
Tralala lalalala lalala
So I thought a little while
And made myself a vest in the very latest style
Tralalala lalala (2x)
Made a vest in the very latest style

3. I had a little vest, as old as it could be
Tralala lalalala lalala
What I'd ever do with it, I just couldn't see
Tralala lalalala lalala
So I thought a little while
And I made myself a tie in the very lastest style
Tralalala lalala (2x)
Made a tie in the very latest style

4. tie / button

5. button / nothing

6. I had a little nothing, as old as it could be
Tralala lalalala lalala
What I'd ever do with it, I just couldn't see
Tralala lalalala lalala
So I thought a little while
And I made myself a song in the very lastest style
Tralalala lalala (2x)
Made a song in the very latest style

1. Hob ikh mir a mantl fun fartsaytikn shtof / Tralala...
Hot dos nit in zikh kayn gantsenem shtokh / Tralala...
Darum, hob ikh zikh batrakht
Un fun dem mantl a rekl gemakht
Tralala... / Fun dem mantl a rekl gemakht

2. Hob ikh mir a rekl... fun dem rekl a vestl gemakht
3. vestl / shnipsl
4. shnipsl / knepl
5. knepl / gornitl
6. gornit / dos lidele

(trad Yiddish, Eng words Teddi Schwartz & Arthur Kevess)

Mudcat MIDIs

The Fox is a traditional song.
I love singing this song.
There is lots of repetition which allows the children to start singing with you by the second verse.
The earliest written version is said to have appeared as a Middle English poem somewhere around the fifth century.
The Fox has been recorded by numerous people such as folksingers Odetta, Pete Seeger , Tom Chapin and Burl Ives, and as recently as 2000 by country group Nickel Creek.
It has also been written up as a picture book, The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night by Peter Spier and others.

The OXFORD BOOK OF NURSERY RHYMES states:
"This rollicking song is traditional in both England and America.... The song has descended from a carol which was probably already old when it happened to be written down on the flyleaf of a manuscript, c. 1500 (Royal MS 19 B. iv) The first verse went
'It fell ageyns the next nyght
the fox yede to with all his myghte,
with-outen cole or candlelight,
whan that he cam vnto the toowne.'"

Like most folk songs, there have been many versions of The Fox.
I have included 4 versions here.
The first version seems to be the most commonly used one at this time.

THE FOX

The fox went out on a chilly night
Prayed for the moon to give him light
For he had many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town o (2x)

He ran til he came to a great big bin
Where the ducks and the geese were kept therein
Said, a couple of you are going to grease my chin
Before I leave this town o

He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
Throwed a duck across his back
He didn't mind the quack, quack, quack
And the legs all dangling down o

Then old mother Flipper-flopper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
Crying, John, John the grey goose is gone
and the fox is on the town o

Then John he went to the top of the hill
Blew his horn both loud and shrill
The fox, he said, I better flee with my kill
Or they'll soon be on my trail o

He ran till he came to his cozy den
There were the little ones, eight, nine, ten
Saying, Daddy, daddy, Better go back again
For it must be a mighty fine town o

Then the fox and his wife, without any strife
Cut up the goose with a carving knife
They never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones o
**********************************************

FOX WENT OUT (Den-O)

A hungry fox jumped up in fright
And he begged for the moon to give him light,
For he had many miles to trot that night,
Before he reached his Den-o.
Den-o, Den-o, for he had many miles to trot that night
Before he reached his Den-o.

So he cocked up his head and out went his tail
And off he went on the long, long trail
Which he done many times in calm and gale
But he always got back to his Den-o.
Den-o, Den-o, (repeat last two lines).

And soon he came to the old farm yard
Where the ducks and geese to him were barred
But he always got one by working hard
To take back to his Den-o.
Den-o, Den-o, (repeat last two lines).

He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
And slung her right across his back
And the old grey goose went quack, quack, quack
But the fox was off to his Den-o.
Den-o, Den-o, (repeat last two lines).

Ol' Mother Slipper Slopper jumped out of bed
And out of the window she poked her head,
Oh, John, John, the grey goose has gone
And the fox is off to his Den-o.
Den-o, Den-o, (repeat last two lines).

John went up to the top of the hill
And he blew a trumpet loud and shrill
Said the fox, that's very pretty music, still
I'd rather be in my Den-o.
Den-o, Den-o, (repeat last two lines).

At last he got back to his den
To his dear little foxes eight, none, ten
And they've had many fat geese since then
And sometimes a good fat hen-o
Hen-o, Hen-o, (repeat last two lines).
********************************************

The Fox

A fox went out in a hungry plight,
and begged of the moon to hive him light,
For he'd many a mile to travel that night,
Ere he could reach his den-oh, den-oh, den-oh;
Fore he'd many a mile to travel that night,
Ere he could reach his den-oh, den-oh, den-oh:

At length he came to a farmer's yard
Where the ducks and geese declared it hard
That their nerves should be shaken and their rest be marred
By a visit from Mister Fox-oh, fox-oh, Fox-oh
That their nerves should be shaken and their rest be marred
By a visit from Mister Fox-oh, fox-oh, fox-oh.

He took the black duck by the sleeve;
Quoth he, "My dear sir, by your leave.
I'll take you away without reprieve,
And carry you home to my den-oh, den-oh, den-oh
I'll take you away without reprieve,
And carry you home to my den-oh, den-oh, den-oh.

He clutched him sharply by the neck,
And flung him right across his back;
The frightened ducks cried, "Quack,quack,quack,
The fox is off to his den-oh, den-oh, den-oh,
The frightened ducks cried, "Quack,quack,quack
The fox is offf to his den-oh, den-oh, den-oh.

Old Mother Slipper-slopper jumped out of bed,
And out of the window she popped her head:
"John, John, John, the black duck's gone,
And the fox is off to his den-oh, den-oh, den-oh
"John, John, John, the black duck's gone,
And the fox is off to his den-oh, den-oh, den-oh.

The farmer ran to the top of the hill,
And blew a blast both loud and shrill.
Quoth the fox, "Tis wondrous music;
Still I'd rather be in my den-oh, den-oh, den-oh,
Quoth the fox, "Tis wondrous music;
Still I'd rather be in my; den-oh, den-oh, den-oh

At last the fox got home to his den,
To his dear littles foxes, eight,nine,ten,
Said he, "We're in luck, here's a good fat duck,
With his legs hanging, dangling, down-oh, down-oh, down-oh,
Said he, "We're in luck, here's a good fat duck,
With his legs handing, dangling, down-oh, down-oh, down-oh.

He sat down to dinner with his hungry wife,
They did very well without fork or knife;
They ne're ate a better duck in all their life,
And the little ones picked the bones-oh, bones-oh, bones-oh,
They ne're ate a better duck in all their life,
And the little one picked the bones-oh, bones-oh, bones-oh.
****************************************
THE FOX

The old fox stepped out one moonshining night
Stood upon his hind feet just about right I'll have
some meat for my supper this night
Before I leave this townee (townee, townee)
I'll have some meat for my supper this night
Before I leave this townee

He went on down to the blacksmith's gate,
There he saw an old black drake
Come on along old drake and go along with me
You're the finest old fellow in this townee
(REPEAT AS PER FIRST VERSE)

The old drake sat still and the word cried NO
Just sat still 'cause he didn't want to go
If you eat no meat 'til you eat meat of mine
You'll eat no meat in the townee (REPEAT)

He went on down by the farmer's gate
These he swa an old grey goose
Come along old goose and go with me
You're the finest old fellow in the townee (REPEAT)

The old goose sat still and the word cried NO
Just sat still 'cause he didn't want to go
If you eat no meat 'til you eat meat of mine
You'll eat no meat in the townee (REPEAT)

He went on home to his den
Out come the young ones 8-9-10
O father, O father when you again
You've had no luck in this townee (REPEAT)

He went on back on his back track
He took the old grey goose by the neck
Her wing went flip-flop over his back
Her feet went dingle dangle down-ee (REPEAT)

Old mother tipped up in the bed
Out of the window she poked her head
Old man, old man the grey goose is gone
I thought I heard her go quack, quack-eo (REPEAT)

The old man jumped up in his shirtail
And with toe dogs on the trail
They caught the fox at the end of the trail
And that was the end of the fox-e-o (REPEAT)

Malvina Reynolds wrote many songs and poems in her life. Many of her songs are still sung. They have been recorded by artist such as Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and the Limeliters.

"Malvina Reynolds was born Malvina Milder on August 23, 1900, to a Jewish socialist immigrant family in San Francisco, California. Her parents ran a tailor shop together and their home was filled with political discussion and meetings........ There she earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and later, in 1938, her Ph.D. in Romance Philology.......... In 1934 She married carpenter and labor organizer William 'Bud' Reynolds and having a daughter in 1935. In the late forties (which were also her late forties) Bud and Malvina worked together on progressive political campaigns and she performed at folk music events in the Los Angeles area, along with Earl Robinson and other musicians active in Peoples’ Songs (whose Bulletin was a forerunner of Sing Out! magazine). She had been writing the occasional popular or political song since her late thirties; by her fifties, she had increased her output and added children’s songs to the mix. By the time the folk protest movements of the 1960s came along, she had honed her skills and was ready to take on the issues of the day: civil rights, opposition to the war in Vietnam, and the right of workers to organize. Overall she wrote hundreds of songs, some of great beauty and many displaying a sense of humor and wit that has endeared her to performers and listeners from Helsinki to Tokyo. Malvina Reynolds died on March 17, 1978, with gigs on her calendar."

More information about Malvina is available at the Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems website.

The video below has 6 Melvina Reynolds songs. Four of them performed by Malvina, one by Pete Seeger and one by the Seekers. Unfortunately, I could not find my favorite song by Malvina Reynolds, The Magic Penny. I have written the lyrics below. It is such a marvelous song for kids and adults.



Magic Penny words and music by Malvina Reynolds

Love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

It's just like a magic penny,
Hold it tight and you won't have any.
Lend it, spend it, and you'll have so many
They'll roll all over the floor.

For love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

Money's dandy and we like to use it,1
But love is better if you don't refuse it.
It's a treasure and you'll never lose it
Unless you lock up your door.

For love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

So let's go dancing till the break of day,
And if there's a piper, we can pay.
For love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

For love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

I was very surprised, okay I was shocked, recently when during a workshop with elementary school children I asked them to sing Home on the Range as a warm up. The surprise came when the majority of the children said they did not know the song. Many had not even heard of it!
I have no idea when or how I learned "Home on the Range" I suspect I learned it in elementary school during a music class.
But I am sure I sang it at some point in school.

I find there are many "folk songs" that I think are main stream that even adults do not know. I find this very sad given that they are a part of the U.S. culture and history.

Home on the Range is the state song of Kansas. According to my research Dr. Brewster M. Higley originally wrote the words in a poem called "My Western Home." He wrote it in the early 1870s in Smith County, Kansas. "The song was picked up by settlers, cowboys, and others and spread across the nation in various forms. In the early 20th century, it was arranged by Texas composer David Guion (1892-1981) who is often credited as the composer. It was officially adopted as the state song of Kansas on June 30, 1947."
(source Wikipedia)

Home on the Range

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play;
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day

Chorus:
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

How often at night when the heavens are bright
With the lights from the glittering stars
Have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed
If their glory exceeds that of ours.

CHORUS

Oh, give me a land where the bright diamond sand
Flows leisurely down the stream;
There the graceful, white swan goes gliding along
Like a maid in a heavenly dream.

CHORUS

Where the air is so pure, the zephyrs so free,
The breezes so balmy and light,
That I would not exchange my home on the range
For all of the cities so bright.

CHORUS

Oh, I love those wild flowers in this dear land of ours,
The curlew I love to hear scream,
And I love the white rocks and the antelope flocks
That graze on the mountain tops green.

CHORUS
There are other verses.
Click here to hear the tune and find many other verses

And like most folk songs the verses vary from source to source.
I rarely use the entire song, usually the first 2 verses and the chorus.

"The Rattlin' Bog" is a cumulative song (think "The Twelve Days of Christmas") and is an example of the use of song to develop good memory.
Rattlin' Bog is Irish/Celtic in origin.
There are other similar tunes.
I grew up singing "And the Green Grass Grew All Around" which sounds a lot like Rattlin' Bog.
There is also a traditional Welsh song "Y Pren ar y Bryn" (The Tree on the Hill) that is similar to "Rattlin' Bog". It starts with....

What a grand old tree, Oh fine tree.
The tree on the hill, the hill in the valley,
The valley by the sea.
Fine and fair was the hill where the old tree grew.
(second verse)
From the tree came a bough, Oh fine bough ! etc..

Rattlin' Bog is a fun upbeat tune and like any folk song, its lyrics can vary from singer to singer; country to country; etc.

The Rattlin' Bog

Chorus:
Hi-ho the rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-o
Hi-ho the rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-o!


Verse
And in that bog there was a tree
A rare tree, and a rattlin' tree
And the tree in the bog and the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus
(repeat after every verse)

Verse
And on that tree there was a limb
A rare limb, and a rattlin' limb
And the limb on the tree
And the tree in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o!

Chorus

(additional verses)
And on that bough there was a branch...
And on that branch there was a twig...
And on that twig there was a nest...
And in that nest there was an egg...
And in that egg there was a bird...
And on that bird there was a wing...
And on that wing there was a flea...
Etc....

When I do this song with the kids, I usually use movements to represent each part of the tree, the bog, the nest, etc. I also have the children "swing their partner" during the chorus. They Love it!

I have attached a youtube player with 9, yes 9, different singers/versions of the song. Notice that this song is not just for kids! In a few of them you will see either the singer or the audience doing various movements. THose too vary from person to person. The last video is of the song "The Green Grass Grew All Around".