Derby Ram | Janice Burns & Jon Doran

There are two characters on the cover of the album. The first being ‘Old Tup’ or ‘The Derby Ram’, a tradition which involves taking or making the skull of a ram, and wearing it as a costume. We love the story in this song, an elaborate lie about the size of a ram, so big that children could play football with its eyes. We took this rather unique melody from a book called ‘Nowell Sing We Clear, Songs & Carols for Midwinter & Christmastide’ by Tony Barrand, Fred Breunig, Andy Davis, and John Roberts, which lists John and Tony’s memories as its primary source.

[@hughjosephfeely]

Beautiful stuff guys 😁

[@000guo3]

love it! Ho! this is Newcastle Ouseburn Valley.

[@davidbowen5138]

That’s joyful! It makes me smile! We need more like this! Thank you! Don’t stop.

[@WildViews9]

thanks for sharing this, made my Sunday morning smile 😊

[@petergoddard1960]

Very uplifting! Nice to see the Cumberland Arms at the end.

[@cathybennett1525]

Love it!

[@alistairjackson4378]

Joyous !

[@justinbonnet1381]

Ahh this is fabulous! Can’t wait to hear it in person ❤

[@philwilliams899]

Lovely version and video and arrangement and singing and brass

[@LordoftheBadgers]

This is awesome guys x

[@Sallyontherailway]

Spot on.

[@iaingoodwin8514]

Excellent!

[@lawriemorritt3492]

Very unusual tune. Brilliant presentation. I actually prefer the more popular tune, with its hard drive, but I cant fault this production. Well done

[@johnroberts8368]

I don't think that's where we learned it, but this is basically the same version A L Lloyd recorded on his LP English Drinking Songs.

[@johnroberts8368]

I hink I commented in the wrong place, but here it is again - I don't think that's where we learned it, but this is basically the same version A L Lloyd recorded on his LP English Drinking Songs.

[@johnroberts8368]

Thanks for the credit.