Stewball (Was A Race Horse) Peter, Paul, & Mary (cover)

I think this is a delightful song & story. It is based on a true story of a British race horse named Stewball (a.k.a. Squball and Sku-ball) and a famous race that he won (against all odds) in Ireland in the mid 1700's.

Stewball

Old Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine
He never drank water, he always drank wine

/ D - Em - / A - DG D - /

His bridle was silver, and his mane it was gold
And the worth of his saddle has never been told

Oh the fairgrounds were crowded, and Stewball was there
But the betting was heavy on the bay and the mare

As they were approaching, about half way around
The gray mare she stumbled and fell to the ground

And away out yonder, ahead of them all
Came a-prancing and a-dancing, my noble Stewball

I bet on the gray mare and I bet on the bay
If I'd bet on old Stewball, I'd be a free man today

Oh the hoot owl she hollers, and the turtle dove moans
I'm a poor boy in trouble. I'm a long way from home

Old Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine
He never drank water, he always drank wine

ps - just found this:
Stewball
Recordings on file by: Woody Guthrie & Friends, Peter, Paul & Mary.
The most famous horse race in folksong history took place on the race course at Kildare, Ireland sometime in the late 1700s or early 1800s. Matched were Sku-ball, a skewbald horse owned by Arthur Marvell, and a grey mare, Miss Portly, the property of Sir Ralph Gore. A skewbald horse, according to authorities, has patches of brown or bay on a white coat.

Whether the horses name was actually Sku-Ball or whether this is just a ballad-singers license with the word skewbald, is unclear. In any event, the race was won by Sku-Ball and this was probably something in the nature of a major upset, since the event was memorialized in an Irish street ballad which has now lasted a couple centuries.

Perhaps the songs popularity derives in part from the seeming common origin of Sku-ball and the elation of the ordinary folk in triumph over the thoroughbred mare.
The ballad of Skewball appears in print as early as 1822 in England, and just a few years later is to be found in an American songster dated 1829. At some point, the old ballad was learned by slaves in the southern United States who thoroughly overhauled the music and the story until all that remained of the original was the horses name (adapted to Stewball) and the fact that a race took place (some versions have the name of the mare as Molly).
In various African American versions of the song, the location of the race has been changed to California, Texas and other sites in the United States.
Source: Sing Out! Magazine.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• stewball
• British
• race
• horse
• Peter
• Paul
• Mary
• racing
• Ireland
• England
• legend
• folk
• song
• gambling
• loss

[lazylazyshark]

nice rendition!

[ImOfTheWoods]

@lazylazyshark Thanks very much - so kind of you! I really enjoyed your version as well. 8o)

[rounds1954]

I never get tired of this song. Great song, great lyrics, great singer.

Who wrote this song?

[ImOfTheWoods]

@rounds1954 Thanks again - sorry I was unable to find to wrote it.

[rounds1954]

This version is at least as good as the PPM one. The backing vocals are as good as the lead. Dwight Rounds.

[ImOfTheWoods]

@rounds1954 Thanks very much again.

[rounds1954]

Fantastic You should be the Mary of Peter Paul and Mary.

[rounds1954]

Both the lead and backup vocals are the best. Good job!

[ImOfTheWoods]

@rounds1954 Thank you so much for your very kind comments.

[rounds1954]

Beautiful voice, beautiful singer, and great backup vocals