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Little Grey 'Oss

from Up The Cut by Jon Wilks

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LITTLE GREY 'OSS [ROUD 393]

Yet another song from the singing of George Dunn, although this one was recorded during a visit by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in 1971, rather than by Roy Palmer. Their notes tell us that George was only able to recall verses five and seven. The two collectors felt they new the song under a different title (‘The Adventures of a Penny’), and when they furnished him with a full set of lyrics he pounced on them, presumably adding the complete song to his repertoire. In his final years, he’d become quite a popular singer amongst folk revivalists, and had taken the time to remember many more songs from his youth. This one must have slotted right in.

I’ve been faithful to the lyrics for the most part, rewriting only the final lines of verses six and seven as I felt sure that the rather unimaginative repetition in the George Dunn version may have had something to do with his memory in the moment of performance. Perhaps I was wrong. In which case, keep repeating “five pound three” for authenticity.

lyrics

Long time I’ve travelled the north country
Seeking to find good company
Good company I always could find
But none was pleasing to my mind
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket but one penny

I saddled my horse and away I did ride
‘Til I came to an alehouse beside the roadside
I called for a pint of good ale that was brown
And along with it I took myself and sat down
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket now no money

I saw three gentlemen playing at dice
I took them as being some noble knights
As they were a-playing and I looking on
They took me as being some nobleman
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket now no money

They asked me if I would play
I asked them what bets they would lay
They says a guinea, and I says five pound
The bets they were laid but no money put down
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket just no money

I handled the dice and I gave them a spin
It happened to be my good luck for the win
If they had’ve won, and I had’ve lost
I should have to have pawn-ed my little grey ‘oss
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket now five pound three

Was ever a mortal man more glad
Than me and myself with the money I had
Now I'm a good fella as you shall find
And I’ll make you all drunk with the drinking of wine
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
The pound in my pocket I’ll share with thee

I stayed there all night and part of the next day
Then I thought to myself I would be on my way
I asked the landlady what I had to pay
She said, “Nothing, love, kiss me and be on your way”
With your fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
Was ever a rich man gladder than me?

credits

from Up The Cut, released February 12, 2021
Arranged, performed and recorded by Jon Wilks.

Mixed and mastered by Andi Lee, Kosi Studios.

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Jon Wilks Whitchurch, UK

'The sort of performer folk circles mean when they talk of the living tradition' - Mike Davies, Folking.com

“One of the best of the New Wave of Folk Blokes. As a guitar player and arranger of traditional songs, Jon Wilks already deserves speaking of in the same breath as your Simpsons and your Morays.” – Ian A. Anderson, fRoots Mag ... more

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