The Darby Ram

Cat. #0271 (MFH #136) - As sung by Allie Long Parker, Eureka Springs, Arkansas on November 5, 1958

VERSE 1
As I went up to Darby's town
T' see what I could see
I saw th biggest, fattest ram
That was ever fed on hay
Filla my Darby ram, sir
Filla my ram-ber-ree It was th biggest, fattest ram
That ever I did see

VERSE 2
The wool growed on this rams back
Went soarin' to th sky
The ravens built their nest there
For I heered the young ones cry
Fill my Darby ram, sir
Fill my ram-ber-ree
It was th biggest, fattest ram
That ever I did see

VERSE 3
Th horns growed on this ram, sir
Nearly reached th moon
A man went up in Aprile
An' never got back till June
Fill my Darby ram, sir
Fill my ram-ber-ree
It was th biggest, fattest ram
That ever I did see

VERSE 4
Th wool growed on this rams belly
Went draggin' to th ground
Th devils grandma shaved 'em off
And made herself a gown
Fill my Darby ram, sir
Fill my ram-ber-ree
It was th biggest, fattest ram
That ever I did see

VERSE 5
Th man that butchered this ram, sir
Got drowned in th blood
An' those that were a standing 'round
Got washed away in th flood
Fill my Darby ram, sir
Fill my ram-ber-ree
It was th biggest, fattest ram
That ever I did see

VERSE 6
Th man that owned this ram, sir
Must'a been mighty rich
Or else th man that made this song
Was a liein'

She [Allie Long Parker] says a man was in jail and the jailer told him he would let him out if he could make up a song that there was not a bit of truth in it. Everything was fine until he sang the last verse.

Variants