The Song
In 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 a gray mare,
Gray mane and gray tail, green stripes down his back;
Gray mane and gray tail, green stripes down his back;
There wa’nt a hair on him but what was coal black.
She stood so still, she threw me to the dirt
She tearéd my hide and she bruiséd 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
Come a-walking behind and a-riding before,
Come a stark naked drummer a-beating the drum,
With his hands on his bosom a-marching along.
Sat down on a hard, hot cold frozen stone,
Ten thousand stood round me yet I was alone.
Took my hat in my hand for to keep my head warm.
Ten thousand got drownded that never was born.
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.
See Also:
- Stories of a Bad Song: “‘Masters of War’ does have a melody—the melody of ‘Nottamun Town,’ an ancient British folk song. It’s often described as a nonsense song; that’s the last thing it is. Today it communicates as twentieth-century surrealism in sixteenth-century clothes.…”
- Florida Folklife Collection: Includes “Nottamun Town” as performed by Jean Ritchie.
- McGuinn’s Folk Den: Commentary and MP3.
