The Derby Ram

The Derby Ram

Here are a pack of lies and a cloud of marvels to beat any; a song as tough and as indestructible as the hoary old tup that it celebrates. Back in ancient days., when animals were worshipped on hill-tops, they sang the ballad of the wonderful ram. Black faced guisers going the rounds of Midland villages at midwinter, with a man in a sheepskin, sang this outside the cottages "for luck". Nowadays, trainloads of British soldiers coming home on leave may be heard bawling their unbuttoned version to the flying countryside. When the beer has a good head, the potent old Darby Ram is never far away. Some say that he represents the Devil himself.