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NOBLE SKEWBALL Sung by: Neal Morris Recorded in Timbo, AR 8/28/59 Click here to listen to the original recording I'll tell of the peerless and noble Skewball. Come and lend me attention, If you'll but stand, And I'll tell you how Ervin fell heir to the land. Come and lend me your attention, If you'll but stand, And I'll tell you how Ervin Fell heir to the land. Well, Ervin got up And he walked the plank 'round, Saying, "Gentlemen, gentlemen, Your money lay down. Five hundred, ten thousand, Will stand you all, And I'll bet all of my money On the noble Skewball. Five hundred, ten thousand, Will stand you all, And I'll bet all of my money On the noble Skewball. Well, the day was appointed, And the horses brought forth, And great nobles appeared From the south and the north. You had ought to been there And seen them go around. You'd a-thought to your soul That they ne'er touched the ground. You had ought to been there And seen them go around. You'd a-thought to your soul That they ne'er touched the ground. Well, they rode 'til they came To the very first post, And Skewball and his rider, Fell into discourse. Said the brave noble rider, "Come, tell me your mind. How far is Miss Portly, The gray mare, behind?" Said the brave noble rider, "Come, tell me your mind. How far is Miss Portly, The gray mare, behind?" Said 'Ball to his rider, "You ride and I'll stile. I think she's behind me A long half a mile. Stick tight to your saddle, And hold tight to my hair, And you'll never be beaten By the valiant gray mare. Stick tight to your saddle, And hold tight to my hair, And you'll never be beaten By the valiant gray mare." Well, they rode 'til they came To the very last post. Said 'Ball to his rider, "We'll now drink a toast. We'll drink to the noble That's on the gray mare, And we'll send her home empty To the plains of Kildare. We'll drink to the noble That's on the gray mare, And we'll send her home empty To the plains of Kildare." (Mr. Morris: "Now, a skewball horse is a horse with a white face, like a Hereford cow.") |
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All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |