Cutty Wren
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
traditional
PDF Files:
--- choose file type ---
Standard Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Song Sheet
Great Britain
Play
MIDI
No audio
available
Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
View
notes
Lyrics:
Oh where are you going said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose
We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose
And what will you do there said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
We'll shoot the Cutty wren said John the Red Nose
We'll shoot the Cutty wren said John the Red Nose
And how will you shoot him said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
With bows and with arrows said John the Red Nose
With bows and with arrows said John the Red Nose
Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose
Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose
Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose
And how will you fetch her said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose
On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose
Ah that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose
Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose
Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose
Oh how will you cut her up said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
With knives and with forks said John the Red Nose
With knives and with forks said John the Red Nose
Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose
Great hatchets and cleavers said John the Red Nose
Great hatchets and cleavers said John the Red Nose
Oh how will you boil her said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
In pots and in kettles said John the Red Nose
In pots and in kettles said John the Red Nose
O that will not do said Milder to Moulder
Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose
Great pans and large cauldrons said John the Red Nose
Great pans and large cauldrons said John the Red Nose
Oh who'll get the spare ribs said Milder to Moulder
Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose
We'll give 'em all to the poor said John the Red Nose
We'll give 'em all to the poor said John the Red Nose
The tradition of hunting the wren is performed in Ireland, the Isle
of Man, some places in Wales and other locations in Europe on
December 26th (Boxing Day or St. Stephen's Day). A wren, either live
or fake, is caught and paraded around the village by "wrenboys"
begging for pennies. The custom is derived from ancient customs of
sacrificing the King for the Year at the winter solstice to usher in
the new year. These rituals are discussed in Sir James George Frazer's
book The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion.
Recorded by the Clancy Brothers and others.
This is the same melody as Green Bushes and was used by Ralph Vaughan
Williams in the Intermezzo movement of the Folk Song Suite.
Click
here
for a full page view.