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The Old Sow / The Galloway Man

[ Roud 1737 ; G/D 8:1661 ; Ballad Index Br3178 ; GlosTrad Roud 1737 ; DT OLDSOW , SOWSONG ; Mudcat 96789 ; trad.]

Katherine Campbell: Songs From North-East Scotland John Howson: Songs Sung in Suffolk

Albert Richardson sang The Old Sow in the Queen’s Hall, London on 14 May 1928 (matrix Bb12974-1; Zonophone T5178). This recording was included in 1998 on the Topic anthology of rural fun and frolic, First I’m Going to Sing You a Ditty (The Voice of the People Volume 7). Albert Richardson told Bob Copper the following verse was not allowed on the recording: “Now these little pigs shit in the farmer’s hat.”

Fred Ginger sang The Old Sow at the Eel’s Foot in Eastbridge, Suffolk, in a ca. 1939 BBC recording made by A.L. Lloyd that was included in 2000 on the Veteran CD of traditional singing and music from the Eel’s Foot, Good Order! Ladies and Gentlemen Please. Fred Ginger also sang The Old Sow at the Eel’s Foot in a 1947 BBC recording made by E.J. Moeron that was broadcast on the BBC Third Programme in late 1947. This programme was issued in 2012 on the Snatch’d From Oblivion CD East Anglia Sings.

Wisdom Smith sang The Galloway Man to Mike Yates at the Cat and Fiddle pub in Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in 1970. This recording was included in 2000 on the Smith Family’s Musical Traditions anthology Band of Gold. Rod Stradling noted:

Obviously a near relative to Albert Richardson’s famous 1927 hit song The Old Sow (Zonophone T5178), now available again in Topic’s Voice of the People series (Vol 7, First I’m Going to Sing You a Ditty). Whether this is another version, existing alongside that one in the tradition, or whether it is a subsequent development from it will probably never be known!

Another recording of Wisdom Smith singing The Galloway Man made by Mike Yates in 1972-74 was included in 1975 on the Topic anthology of countryside songs from Southern England, When Sheepshearing’s Done. Mike Yates noted:

In the late 1920s Albert Richardson of Burwash in Sussex recorded his now famous song The Old Sow, complete with grunts and whistles, for the Zonophone record company. Past singers had included animal noises in songs such as Here’s Luck to All My Cocks and Hens but it was Albert’s version that soon took hold of the popular imagination; and it would seem likely that Wisdom’s spirited performance has been somewhat influenced by the latter’s recording.

Arthur Howard sang I Bought Three Pigs at Marsden Fair in 1981 on his Hill & Dale album Merry Mountain Child. Ian Russell noted:

In his childhood, Arthur’s parents often sang to him and he very quickly picked up these songs. Here are just two, Old Jepson Brown learnt from his mother, and I Bought Three Pigs at Marsden Fair learnt from his father.

Cyril Barber of Felsham, Suffolk, sang The Old Sow to John Howson in between 1985 and 1987. This recording was included in 1987 on the Veteran Tapes cassette of popular folk songs, Songs Sung in Suffolk Vol. 1, and in 2000 on the Veteran CD anthology of comic songs, music hall songs and parodies, Comic Songs Sung in Suffolk. John Howson noted:

This version of this song almost certainly derives from a 78 rpm Zonophone record made by Albert Richardson in 1928, and it was again recorded by Leslie Sarony (with vocal quartet) in 1934 (Rex 8145). The Old Sow was picked up by many traditional singers around the country, particularly in rural areas, but Cyril is the only one I’ve heard sing it in Suffolk, although the BBC did recorded ‘Freddy’ [Fred Ginger] at the Eel’s Foot in Eastbridge in [1939]. Cyril tells me that he picked this up from a chap who was from London and used to stay in Hoxne. “His name was Barber too!”

Dave Williams sang The Old Sow in a 1993 hole recording on his 2003 Forest Tracks CD You’re On Nipper!. Paul Marsh noted:

This song was originally on a 78rpm record and sung by Albert Richardson. Dave’s rendition was for his trip to Japan in 1983. Some listeners may recall Dave singing this song with Tony Spicer in the early days.

Lyrics

Albert Richardson sings The Old Sow

There was an old farmer, he had an old sow,
(Snort) ow (raspberry) ow (whistle) ide-ily-dow
Suzanna’s a funniful man
(Snort) an (raspberry) an (whistle) ide-ily-dan
Sing lassie go-rings re-low
Suzanna’s a funniful man
(Snort) an (raspberry) an (whistle) ide-ily-dan
Suzanna’s a funniful man.

Now, this old sow she some little pigs,
(Snort) igs (raspberry) igs (whistle) ide-ily-digs, etc.

Now, these little pigs they muddled them up,
(Snort) up (raspberry) up (whistle) ide-ily-dup, etc.

Now, these little pigs they had to have straw,
(Snort) aw (raspberry) aw (whistle) ide-ily-daw, etc.

Now, these little pigs they had some curly tails,
(Snort) ails (raspberry) ail (whistle) ide-illy-dails, etc.

Now, these little pigs they had to be stuffed,
(Snort) uff (raspberry) uff (whistle) ide-ily-duff, etc.

Now, these little pigs they made a bit of bacon,
(Snort) aton (raspberry) aton (whistle) ide-ily-daton, etc.

Now, these little pigs they made a bit of ham,
(Snort) am (raspberry) am (whistle) ide-ily-ham, etc.

Fred Ginger sings The Old Sow

(Philip Lumpkin) Order please, now I think Fred is going to give us a little song of the pig.

Now there was an old farmer he had an old sow
(Snort) here, there, had an old sow, had an old sow
Now there was an old farmer he had an old sow
Sing I do whe’r a where um and there was an old man
With a (snort) (rasberry) (whistle) a little old man
Now this old sow had the best of straw
(Snort) here, there, best of straw,best of straw
Now this old sow had the best of straw
Sing I do whe’r a where um and there was an old man
With a (snort) (rasberry) (whistle) a little old man

Now this old sow had nine little pigs
(Snort) here, there, nine little pigs, nine little pigs
Now this old sow had nine little pigs
Sing I do whe’r a where um and there was an old man
With a (snort) (rasberry) (whistle) a little old man
Now these nine little pigs had curly tails
(Snort) here, there, curly tails, curly tails
Now these nine little pigs had curly tails
Sing I do whe’r a where um and there was an old man
With a (snort) (rasberry) (whistle) a little old man

Now these nine little pigs and their bottoms all bare
(Snort) here, there, arses all bare, arses all bare
Now these nine little pigs and their arses all bare
Sing I do whe’r a where um and there was an old man
With a (snort) (rasberry) (whistle) a little old man

Now if you want any more you can sing it yourself
(Snort) here, there , sing it yourself, sing it yourself
Now if you want any more you can sing it yourself
Sing lassy fol lar a where um and there was an old man
With a (snort) (rasberry) (whistle) a little old man

Wisdom Smith sings The Galloway Man

See once on a farm they grabs ’n ol’ sow
(grunt)-ow, (fart)-ow, (whistle)-idle-y-dow
With a-lee, with a-lyre, with a-lee an’ me poor go round
We poor the bouncing Galloway man
(grunt)-an, (fart)-an, (whistle)
Over the bouncing Galloway man

See, this old pig larned the young’uns to grunt
(grunt)-unt, (fart)-unt, (whistle)-idle-y-dunt …

See, three little pigs went into the straw …

See three little pigs ’ad six months in gaol
One one to the t’other he don’t give a suller
So long as they gettin’ the best o’ swill …

Cyril Barber sings The Old Sow

There was an old farmer, he had an old sow,
(Grunt) an (raspberry) ah (whistle) idle-di-dan
Suzanna’s a funnical man,
(Grunt) an (raspberry) ah (whistle) idle-di-dan
Suzanna’s a funnical man,
Sing lassie go-ring-to-the-law,
Suzanna’s a funnical man,
(Grunt) an (raspberry) ah (whistle) idle-di-dan
Suzanna’s a funnical man.

Now, this old sow she had some little pigs,
(Grunt) igs (raspberry) ah (whistle) idle-di-digs, etc.

Now, these little pigs they muffled her up,
(Grunt) up (raspberry) ah (whistle) idle-di-dup, etc.

Now, these little pigs they had to be sucked,
(Grunt) uck (raspberry) ah (whistle) idle-di-duck, etc.

Now, these little pigs they made a bit of bacon,
(Grunt) acon (raspberry) ah (whistle) idle-di-dacon, etc.

Now, these little pigs they made a bit of ham,
(Grunt) am (raspberry) ah (whistle) idle-di-dam, etc.