The Derby Ram

Lyrics

The Derby Ram

This traditional ‘bragging’ song was sung all over Britain from as early as 1790. The song has evolved and had many different versions all with the same theme. This is my version.

As I was going to Derby sir all on the market day
I saw the biggest ram sir that ever was fed on hay

Chorus:
Indeed sir, it’s true sir, I never was given to lie
And if you’d have been to Derby sir
You’d have seen it the same as I

The ram was fat behind sir, the ram was fat before
He measured nine yards round sir, It might have even been more….

He had four legs to stand on sir, he had four feet to stand
Every foot that that ram had did cover an acre of land….

The wool upon his back sir, it reached up to the sky
There the eagles built their nests, I heard the young ones cry….

The man who killed this ram sir, he drowned in all the blood
The boy that held the dish sir, was swept away in’t flood….

The mutton from that ram sir, gave all the army meat
And from what was left over sir, fed all of the fleet….

The wool upon his belly sir, reached down to the ground
The wool was sold in Derby town for forty thousand pounds…