Wednesday 8 January 2020
Tune of the Day: Widecombe Fair
Traditional English folk song
This is a well-known Devon folk song about a man called Tom Pearce, whose horse dies after someone borrows it to travel to the fair in Widecombe with his friends. Its chorus ends with a long list of the people traveling to the fair. Some research suggests that the names originally referred to real people. As the last name in a long list, “Uncle Tom Cobley and all” has come to be used as a humorous colloquialism meaning “anyone and everyone”.
Tom Pierce, Tom Pierce lend me your grey mare
All along, down along out along lee
For I wants for to go to Widdicombe Fair
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy
Dan'l Widden, Harry Hall, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Thanks to Jean for suggesting this tune!