Skewball
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Skewball was the name of a British racehorse, most famous as the subject of a ballad. The horse was born in 1741, and originally owned by Francis, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, and later sold. His name has been recorded as "Squball", "Sku-ball", or "Stewball". He won many races in England, and a famous one in Ireland, which is generally the subject of the song of the same name. Popular legend has Skewball belonging to an Arthur Marvell. Based on the horse's name, Skewball was likely a skewbald horse, though there is speculation that he was a bay.
[edit] Songs
There are two major different versions of the ballad, generally titled either "Skewball" or "Stewball"; the latter is more popular in America. And there are multiple variations within the two major divisions. Versions date at least as far back as the 18th century, appearing on numerous broadsides. In both songs the title horse is the underdog in the race, up against a favored grey mare (usually called either "Griselda" or "Molly"), and although in most versions of Stewball the winning horse triumphs due to the stumbling of the lead horse, Skewball wins simply by being the faster horse in the end. Probably the most significant lyrical difference in the songs is the conversation Skewball has with his jockey, while Stewball behaves more like a typical horse and does not speak.
American versions were sung and adapted by slaves in the Southern United States, and have Stewball racing in California, Texas, and Kentucky. British versions, when the setting is mentioned, often place the race in Kildare, Ireland, leading to some believe that the song is actually Irish in origin. The fact that these accounts still imply that the horse's nationality as English, and it celebrates a victory over a horse that is presumably Irish, makes it likely the song is originally English, and its setting in Ireland is due to it being the site of Skewball's most famous race.
[edit] Recordings
"...comes aprancin' and adancin' my darling Stewball."
A notable version of "Stewball" was recorded by John Herald and the Greenbriar Boys, and popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary. The Weavers and Lonnie Donegan recorded it in the 1950s. Other versions include Joan Baez' on Joan Baez/5 (1964). The 1971 John Lennon song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" has a partly identical meter and a virtually identical tune [1]. Extracted from the foregoing article: "Lennon's composition is almost exactly the same song as "Stewball," only with other words attached to its melody. It is almost a case of direct plagiarism." Popular British versions include recordings by A. L. Lloyd, Martin Carthy, and Steeleye Span on the album Ten Man Mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again.
Another notable recording is by American folk legend Woody Guthrie, who included an English and an American interpretation (both entitled Stewball) in Volume 4 of The Asch Recordings. The American interpretation is sung with an African American 'call and response' style while the English interpretation has a more traditional folk style. The American interpretation has Stewball as being born in California with the famed race against the grey mare taking place in Dallas, Texas. This version of the song was popularized by Texas singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen, in The Live Album performance at Dallas's Sons of Hermann Hall.
Besides, a French cover has been recorded by Hugues Aufray, becoming one of Aufray's biggest hits.
