Creeping Jane

This song won Joseph Taylor first prize at the Brigg competition in 1905. Grainger noted it there, and phonographed it the following year. Mr. Taylor, well into his seventies, had learned it as a boy, "from an old woman in Binbrook."


I'll sing you a song, and a very pretty one, concerning Creeping Jane-O,
Why, she never saw a mare nor a gelding in her life that she valued
at the worth of half a pin,
     Lal-the-day-de-ay, the diddle-al-the-day-O
Why, she never saw a mare nor a gelding in her life that she valued
at the worth of half a pin,
     Lal-the-day.

When Creeping Jane on the racecourse came, the gentlemen viewed her round-O,
And all they had to say concerning little Jane, "She's not able for
to gallop o'er the ground."

Now when that they came to the second milepost, Creeping Janey was
far behind-O,
Then the rider flung his whip around her bonny little neck, and he
said, "My little lassie, never mind."

Now when that they came to the third milepost, Creeping Janey looked
blithe and smart-O,
And then she lifted up her little lily-white foot, and she flew past
them all like a dart.

Now Creeping Jane the race has won, and she's scarcely sweat one drop-O,
Why, she's able for to gallop all the ground o'er again, while the
others are not able for to trot.

Now Creeping Jane is dead and gone, and her body lies on the cold ground-O,
I'll go down unto her master one favor for to beg, just to keep her
little body from the hounds.


© Golden Hind Music