Thursday, 15 September 2011

A song to sing while preparing the wool

I do love a bit of British folk music - it appeals to something deep within me and, as I was researching sheep rhymes e.g. baa baa black sheep, little bo peep, mary had a little lamb, I came across "tarry wool". I like the idea of learning it all and having the children sing the first verse with me as a chorus after each verse. I'll just have a week to learn it as next week, hopefully, we'll all be sitting with a fleece and taking out the bits and brambles ready for cleaning. I've linked in a youtube clip so you can get an idea of the tune (we won't be harmonising though!)


TARRY WOOL

Tarry wool, oh tarry wool
Tarry wool is ill tae spin
Card it well, oh, card it well
Card it well e'er ye begin

When it's carded, row'd and spun,
Then your work in almost done
But when it's woven, dreft and clean,
It will be clothing for a queen

Up, ye shepherds, dance and skip
O'er the hills and valleys trip
Sing in praise of tarry wool
And of the flock who bears it, too

Poor harmless creatures, without blame
They clothe the back and cram the wame
Keep us warm and hearty, too
Well's on us, our tarry wool

Hart and hind and fallow deer
Not by half so useful are
From kings to him that holds the plough
All are obliged to tarry wool

Who'd be a king, can any tell
When a shepherd lives so well
Lives so well and pays his due
With honest heart and tarry wool

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