Survey of Language and Folklore Collection (1969, R.Heath)

Context

Location: town: 
Eckington
SK4379
Time of Occurrence: 
Christmas
Collective name: 
[Not given]

Source

Source author: 
Robert Heath
Source title: 
T'Owd Tup - Eckington
Source publication: 
University of Sheffield, 20th January 1969

Cast

Old Man
Old Woman
Tup
Character
Bob / Butcher

Text

{T'OWD TUP - ECKINGTON}

{TEXT}

{ENTER OLD MAW & OLD WOMAN LEADING TUP - CHARACTER FOLLOWS THEM (ACTS AS A BYSTANDER INITIALLY)}

OLD MAN & WOMAN CHANT:

Here comes me & our old lass
Short of money and short of brass
Pay for a pint and let us sup
And then we'll show you our old Tup.

OLD MAN & WOMAN SING:

As we were going to Derby
Upon a market day
We had the finest Tup
That ever fed on hay
{CHORUS} Fai-o—lai nanny-go-lai

CHARACTER: {JOINING OLD MAN & WOMAN}

What are you doing with that Tup?

OLD MAN & OLD WOMAN: {IN UNISON)

We were taking him to Derby to be stuck,
but we don't think he'll make it.
{ADDRESSES AUDIENCE} Is there a butcher in the house?

Notes

Survey of Language and Folklore's Notes:

"Contributed to the Sheffield Survey of Folklore and Language by Mrs.N.J.Hempton. Informant Robert Heath, 8 March View, Eckington, Derbys. Acted 'by him when approximately 12 years old - he learnt it from other children'. Handed in 20th January, 1969.

THE PLAY

THE DERBY TUP

Performed in local Public Houses.

CHARACTERS

OLD MAN

OLD WOMAN

BOB THE BUTCHER

CHARACTER WITH COLLECTING BOX

THE TUP (RAM ) - Someone inside an old sack with a sheep-like head on top. The Tup has a fine set of horns or stag antlers. Old sack - child inside holding pair of horns.

The rest of the characters wear any bizarre old clothes."