Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Nottingham Fair / Nottamun Town / Fair Nottalin Town (Roud No. 1044) - Sung by Lum Wilson "Bill" Jackson at Arvin FSA Camp, Bakersfield, California, USA. Additional verses by Myra and Frank Pipkin. Recorded by Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin on August 12, 1941. Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Workers Collection (AFC 1985/001).
Song transcription:
I went to the barn my steers to feed
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I went to the barn my steers to feed
I fed 'em my saddle, hung up the feed
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
I rode into town, walked all of the way
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I rode into town, walked all of the way
I was stifled on dust for it rained all that day
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
Met the king and the queen, their company was mine
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I met the king and the queen, their company was mine
A-riding on horseback, a-leadin' behind
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
It rained and it hailed, it blew a great storm
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
It rained and it hailed, it blew a great storm
Kept my hat on my arm to keep my head warm
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
I rode the gray mare with a crease down her back
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I rode the gray mare with a crease down her back
Not a hair on her that wasn't coal black
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
I rode into town, not a soul did I see
-Did ever you near that awkward old song?
I rode into town, not a soul did I see
Ten thousand people was gazing at me
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
The recording can be listened to here:
loc.gov/item/toddbib000245
Nottingham Fair / Nottamun Town / Fair Nottalin Town (Roud No. 1044) - Sung by Lum Wilson "Bill" Jackson at Arvin FSA Camp, Bakersfield, California, USA. Additional verses by Myra and Frank Pipkin. Recorded by Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin on August 12, 1941. Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Workers Collection (AFC 1985/001).
Song transcription:
I went to the barn my steers to feed
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I went to the barn my steers to feed
I fed 'em my saddle, hung up the feed
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
I rode into town, walked all of the way
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I rode into town, walked all of the way
I was stifled on dust for it rained all that day
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
Met the king and the queen, their company was mine
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I met the king and the queen, their company was mine
A-riding on horseback, a-leadin' behind
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
It rained and it hailed, it blew a great storm
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
It rained and it hailed, it blew a great storm
Kept my hat on my arm to keep my head warm
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
I rode the gray mare with a crease down her back
-Did ever you hear that awkward old song?
I rode the gray mare with a crease down her back
Not a hair on her that wasn't coal black
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
I rode into town, not a soul did I see
-Did ever you near that awkward old song?
I rode into town, not a soul did I see
Ten thousand people was gazing at me
We'll all sing as awkward as ever we can.
The recording can be listened to here:
loc.gov/item/toddbib000245
