“Mandi Went to Poove the Grys”
Description
Travellers' cant. Singer goes to put horses out to graze; a policeman is after the family. The farmer tries to impound the horses; the aunt chases them around the haystacks and steals some hay. Finally the policeman tells them to move on
Long description
Travellers' cant. Singer goes to put horses out to graze; a policeman is after the family (the daughter remarks, "It's just as Father said; we can't get away"). The farmer tries to impound the horses; the aunt (or the singer) chases them around the haystacks (or srikes the policeman) and steals some hay. Finally the policeman tells them to move on
Notes
This song was apparently widespread among English Travellers. "Mandi" = I; "poov(e) the grys (grais)" = put the horses to grass. It was common practice for Travellers to camp in an unauthorized place, then let their horses into a farmer's field after dark with the intention of retrieving them before dawn. Often as not, they were caught and the horses impounded. - PJS
Recordings
- Peter Ingram, "Mandi Went to Poove the Girl" (on Voice11)
References
- Kennedy 349, "Mandi Went to Poove the Grys" (1 text, 1 tune)
- MacSeegTrav 129, "Mandi Went to Poov the Grais" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #852
- BI, K349