Skewbald - Martin Carthy

You gallant sportsmen all, come listen to me story

Of the bold Skewbald that noble racing pony

Arthur Marvel was the man who has brought the Skewbald over

He’s a diamond in the land and he rolls around in clover

These horses were brought out with saddle, whip and bridle

And the gentlemen did shout when they saw the noble rider

And there’s some did shout hooray as the air was thick with curses

On the grey Griselda sportsmen laid their purses

Now the trumpet it did sound, they shot off like an arrow

Scarcely touched the ground where the going it was narrow

Then Griselda passed him by as the gentlemen did holler,

«Oh, the grey will win the day and the Skewbald he will follow.»

But halfway round the track up spoke the noble rider,

«I fear we must fall back for she’s going like a tiger.»

Up spoke the noble horse, «Ride on, ride on, me master,

For we’re halfway round the track and it’s now we’ll see who’s faster.»

So swiftly o’er the grass Skewbald flew like lightning

So swiftly o’er the grass that the grey mare she was taken

«Ride on, my noble horse, for the good two hundred guineas.

Oh your saddle shall be of gold when we pick up our winnings.»

Way past the winning post Skewbald won so handy

And horse and rider both called for sherry wine and brandy

And it’s there they drank the health of the gallant Miss Griselda

And all who lost their money on the sporting plains of Kildare