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Mr
Charles Tree, Baritone, recorded "Widdicombe Fair" (composer credit: "Heath") twice for the Gramophone Company (later labelled "His Master's Voice"), initially in October 1910. (He also recorded it for the foreign Favorite label (No.65046), as well as a shortened version for French Pathe (60171),
182:
in 1966, Adamson later converted his drawings into a lively poster. "George
Adamson has drawn a set of earthy characters to ride Tom Pearse's grey mare in the famous West Country song that are so obviously just right for their names. The colours are sombre, but there is humour and sly detail to
159:
performed a parody version called "Ganderpoke Bog" (introduced as "The
Somerset Nog"), with the long list of people in the chorus being "Len Possett, Tim Screevy, The Reverend Phipps, Peg Leg Loombucket, Solly Levy, Ginger Epstein, Able Seaman Trufitt, Scotch Lil, Messrs Cattermole, Mousehabit,
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The Devon duo "Show of Hands" wrote a sinister ballad, also called "Widecombe Fair", about a young man who separates from his older companions and is murdered, which leaves off where the original folk song begins: "Tom, Tom, lend me your grey mare, I want to go back to
Widecombe Fair..."
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Local historians have tried to identify the characters in the song. Tony Beard, a member of the local history group that has researched the song says "I'm convinced the characters were real people", concluding that they are likely to have been inhabitants of the
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about the same time). The original
Gramophone Company recording of 1910 (12442e) was superseded in May 1915 with a new recording (HO 1522 ab) but keeping the same catalogue number (G.C.4-2123).
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in
England), though it also exists in variant forms. The title is spelt "Widdecombe Fair" in the original publication, though "Widecombe" is now the standard spelling of the town
201:(some of whose members had previously been in The Nashville Teens) on a German TV program (Muzik-Kanal), as seen on the DVD "Kings & Queens" (released in 2010).
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229:
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Neapthigh and
Trusspot (solicitors and Commissioners for Oaths), Father Thunderghast, Fat Alice, Con Mahoney, Yeti Rosencrantz, Foo Too Robinson and Uncle
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A comic version with dramatic dialogue spoken by the characters, including Mrs Pearce, was recorded in 1930 by the Regal
Dramatic players. A review in
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27:" (sometimes spelt "Tam Pierce"), is a Devon folk song about a man called Tom Pearce, whose horse dies after someone borrows it to travel to the
90:
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and all" has come to be used as a humorous colloquialism meaning "anyone and everyone". The surname is spelt as "Cobleigh" in some references.
210:, the fictional Dalton Abbott Railway Choir performed a parody of the song with the names in the chorus taken from the railway duty roster.
117:, a record which included a version with other British singing stars at the time, who replaced the familiar list of names with their own.
130:, introduced with a spoken explanation of the ghostly aspects of the song. Since then, it has been recorded by many others, including
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of Welsh and
Cornish tradition. (On the H.M.V. record 4-2123; mx. 12442e, by Charles Tree the title is spelt "Widdicombe Fair".)
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236:. The story showcases many elements of Devon folklore, with the song as its centre piece. It was originally published in the
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Columbia on Parade, in which
Nineteen of Columbia's Greatest Artists and Bands provide a Unique Entertainment
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Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
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174:, who lived for many years in Devon, illustrated the song as a picture book for children with the title
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says it is "played with spirit and indeterminate dialect". A straight version was also recorded by
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70:. The ghostly 'Grey Mare' of the song may in fact refer to a lost folk custom similar to the
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A painted wooden sculpture depicting the horse and its riders is in Widecombe-in-the-Moor's
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released a rock version of the song - with abridged lyrics and new music - on their album
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197:. A similar but much longer version was performed in 1970 by an early incarnation of
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39:." Some research suggests that the names originally referred to real people.
454:"The Uncle Tom Cobley Horse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park"
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area and that the song may commemorate an event that happened in 1802.
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AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music
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505:"Charles Tree Baritone - Widdicombe Fair - Favorite Label 65046"
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ends with a long list of the people travelling to the fair: "
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composed in 1912 is likely influenced by Widecombe Fair.
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20th Anniversary Hardcover (1997), later reprinted in
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When the wind whistles cold on the moor of the night.
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The lyrics to the song appeared in the graphic story
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And all the long night be heard skirling and groans.
637:"Renaissance Discography (This gives song title as
164:and all". (Con Mahoney was at the time Head of the
376:From Tom Pearce’s old mare in her rattling bones,
327:So Tom Pearce’s old mare, her took sick and died.
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361:Tom Pearce's old mare doth appear ghastly white,
316:And he seed his old mare down a-making her will,
312:So Tom Pearce, he got up to the top o' the hill.
301:But Tom Pearce's old mare hath not trotted home,
282:So they harnessed and bridled the old grey mare.
342:But this isn't the end o' this shocking affair.
252:Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare.
563:"IVES, Burl: Troubador (1941-1950) - 8.120728"
346:Nor, though they be dead, of the horrid career
331:And Tom he sat down on a stone, and he cried
378:With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
363:With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
333:With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
318:With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
303:With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
288:With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
273:With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
258:With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
247:
348:Of Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
267:And when shall I see again my grey mare?
124:on 11 February 1941 for his debut album
380:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
365:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
350:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
335:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
320:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
305:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
290:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
275:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
260:Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
256:For I want for to go to Widecombe Fair,
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145:In a 1967 episode of the radio series
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374:All along, down along, out along lea.
359:All along, down along, out along lea.
344:All along, down along, out along lea.
329:All along, down along, out along lea.
314:All along, down along, out along lea.
299:All along, down along, out along lea.
286:And off they drove to Widecombe fair,
284:All along, down along, out along lea.
269:All along, down along, out along lea.
254:All along, down along, out along lea.
479:"Search Results for Widdicombe Fair"
297:Then Friday came, and Saturday noon.
127:Okeh Presents the Wayfaring Stranger
13:
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113:. In 1932 Newell also appeared in
42:As the last name in a long list, "
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271:By Friday soon, or Saturday noon,
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384:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
369:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
354:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
339:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
324:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
309:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
294:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
279:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
264:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
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432:"Uncle Tom Cobley and all..."
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382:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
367:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
352:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
337:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
322:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
307:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
292:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
277:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
262:Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
183:delight an observant child."
60:Songs and Ballads of the West
62:(1889–91) (referring to the
7:
96:
10:
691:
54:The song was published by
49:
528:Regal Records MR145, 1930
402:"Tom Pierce (Tam Pearse)"
591:. George Worsley Adamson
406:Digital Tradition Mirror
248:The song lyrics, in full
242:Eddie Campbell's Bacchus
565:. Naxos. Archived from
485:. King's College London
434:BBC Devon. 22 May 2008
226:The Devil's Footprints
31:with his friends. Its
204:In a 1973 episode of
178:. First published by
68:Widecombe-in-the-Moor
569:on 29 September 2007
238:Heavy Metal Magazine
641:DVD gives title as
458:Holiday In Dartmoor
232:and illustrated by
207:The Benny Hill Show
191:The Nashville Teens
166:BBC Light Programme
120:It was recorded by
56:Sabine Baring-Gould
670:English folk songs
617:on 19 January 2015
157:Rambling Syd Rumpo
138:in the persona of
115:Columbia on Parade
589:"Widdecombe Fair"
132:Paul Austin Kelly
91:St Pancras church
29:fair in Widecombe
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613:. Archived from
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155:in character as
153:Kenneth Williams
44:Uncle Tom Cobley
23:", also called "
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665:Burl Ives songs
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180:Faber and Faber
176:Widdecombe Fair
148:Round the Horne
140:Worzel Gummidge
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675:Devon folklore
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540:, October 1930
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509:Off the Record
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234:Eddie Campbell
172:George Adamson
111:Raymond Newell
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21:Widecombe Fair
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619:. Retrieved
615:the original
611:"The Tablet"
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593:. Retrieved
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571:. Retrieved
567:the original
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512:. Retrieved
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409:. Retrieved
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230:Marcus Moore
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195:Tobacco Road
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64:West Country
59:
58:in the book
53:
41:
36:
24:
20:
18:
639:Tom Pierce.
514:26 February
489:26 February
215:Goosey Fair
199:Renaissance
136:Jon Pertwee
76:Hobby Horse
659:Categories
538:Gramophone
388:References
213:Tavistock
185:The Tablet
162:Ted Willis
107:Gramophone
25:Tom Pearce
189:In 1964,
122:Burl Ives
72:Mari Lwyd
16:Folk song
97:Versions
84:Spreyton
50:History
621:5 July
595:5 July
573:5 July
463:5 July
438:5 July
411:5 July
33:chorus
623:2018
597:2018
575:2018
516:2020
491:2020
465:2018
440:2018
413:2018
134:and
168:).
74:or
661::
645:)"
507:.
481:.
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421:^
404:.
244:.
151:,
142:.
93:.
647:.
625:.
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19:"
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