Context
Source
Cast
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-laiCHARACTER: {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."