Nottamun Town
"Nottamun Town" (Roud # 1044) is an English folk song which possibly dates from the late medieval period. It is popular in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States.
Lyrics
Most version of the song run along these lines:
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
To show me the way to fair Nottamun Town
I rode a grey horse, a mule roany mare
Grey mane and grey tail, green striped on his back
Grey mane and grey tail, green striped on his back
There wa'nt a hair on her be-what was coal black
She stood so still, She threw me to the dirt
She tore -a my hide, and she bruised my shirt
From saddle to stirrup I mounted again
And on our ten toes we rode over the plain'
Met the King and the Queen and the company more
Came a riding behind and a walking before
Come a stark naked drummer, -a beating a drum
With his heels 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
Podcasts:
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by Isobel Campbell
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by Fairport Convention
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by Richard Thompson
Nottamun Town
by: Isobel CampbellIn 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
To show me the way to fair Nottamun Town
I rode a big horse that was called the grey mare
Grey mane and grey tail, green stripes down her back
Grey mane and grey tail, green stripes down her back
There ain't a hair on her be-what was coal black
She stood so still, she threw me to the dirt
She tored at my hide and bruised my shirt
From saddle to stirrup I mounted again
And on my ten toes I rode over the plain
So the King and the Queen
And the company of men
A-walking behind and riding before
Now a stark naked drummer
Come riding along
With his hands in his bosom
Always beating his drum
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 around me
Yet I was alone
Took my hat in my hand
For to keep my head warm