> Silly Sisters > Songs > The Seven Wonders

The Seven Wonders

[trad. arr. Prior / Tabor]

Maddy Prior, June Tabor, vocals;
Tony Hall, melodeon;
Martin Carthy, guitars;
Andy Irvine, hurdy-gurdy;
Johnny Moynihan, bouzouki;
Danny Thompson, bass;
John Gillaspie, bombard

This song from the Alps of Wales was collected from Mick Tems of Pontardawe. It was sung by Maddy Prior and June Tabor on their album Silly Sisters.

Lyrics

I heard it said yesterday morning
    Tal-la ring ting ring tether-ring-too
That a ship of lead swam o’er the ocean
    Tal-la ring ting ring tether-ring-too
And a ship of cork sank to the bottom
    Tal-la ring ting ring tether-ring-too
And that is one of the seven wonders
    Tal-la ring ting ring tether-ring-too

I heard it said that the partridge
On the shore was playing stool-ball
And the balls were made of sand
And that is two of the seven wonders

The pruning hook out in the meadow
By itself it was reaping
And in a day it cut an acre
And that is three of the seven wonders

I heard it said there was a pig
And on his cart he was loading bracken
And the load he was making ready
And that is four of the seven wonders

I heard it said that in Llangollen
That the moon was teaching reading
And an excellent verse he gave there
And that is five of the seven wonders

I heard it said that on the rock
That the dove she kept a tavern
With its little cup to test the drink
And that is six of the seven wonders

I heard it said of the swallow on the sea
That he was making an iron horseshoe
With golden hammer and silver anvil
And that’s the last of the seven wonders