click to play

Of all the horses in the merry greenwood
The bobtailed mare bears the bells away
There is Hey, there is Ree, there is Hoo, there is Gee,
But the bobtailed mare bears the bells away.
(Chorus)
Hey, Ree, Hoo Gee,
But the bobtailed mare bears the bells away.

abc | midi | pdf
Source: Lucy Broadwood and J A Fuller Maitland. 1893, English County Songs, Leadenhall Press, London

Notes:
Lucy Broadwood wrote:

"hey" and "Ree" are right and left respectively; "Who with a hey and ree the beasts command" (Micro-Cynicon, 1599). "hoo" or "Ho" is the same as "Woa" - stop; "So when they once fall in love there is no Ho in them till they have their love" (Cobbler of Canturburie, 1608). "Gee" is of course "Go on." "Gio" in this sense is quoted in Dialogus Creaturarum, 1490.

In the "Chorus" part, the four names are sung by four of the singers in order, all joining in at "But the bobtailed mare."


Roud: 1384 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child:



Browse Titles: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z