Tam Pearce

Words & Music:

Traditional English West Country

I used to have this song listed as "Traditional Scottish", but correspondent Jon Richmond set me straight. Not only is Widdecombe "...in the 'deep south'..." But the dialect of this song is from Devonshire, England, not Scotland. Just because they wear tams in Scotland, doesn't mean the name is from there...

C G7 C D7 G7

"Tam Pearce. Tam Pearce, lend me your grey mare, all along, down along, out along lea,

C G7 Am

For I want for to go to Widdecombe Fair,

CHORUS:

Wi' Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon,

G7 C G7 C G7 C

Harry Hawk, old Uncle Tam Cobbleigh and all--, old Uncle Tam Cobbleigh and all."

"And when shall I see again my grey mare?" All along, down along, out along lea,

"By Friday soon, or Saturday noon,"

CHORUS:

Then Friday came, and Saturday noon, all along, down along, out along lea,

But Tam Pearce's old mare hath not trotted home.

CHORUS:

So Tam Pearce he got up to the top o' the hill, all along, down along, out along lea,

And he seed his old mare down a making her will.

CHORUS:

So Tam Pearce's old mare, her took sick and died. all along, down along, out along lea,

And Tam he sat down on a stone, and he cried.

CHORUS:

But this isn't the end o'this shocking affair, all along, down along, out along lea,

Nor, though they be dead of the horrid career.

CHORUS:

When the wind whistles cold on the moor of a night, all along, down along, out along lea,

Tam Pearce's old mare doth appear ghastly white.

CHORUS:

And all the long night be heard skirling and groans, all along, down along, out along lea,

From Tam Pearce's old mare in her rattling bones.

CHORUS: