Old Matha Gummersal's Mule

Lyrics

1
Old Matha Gummersal 'ad a mule an' it wor very poor,
An' it wor very poor,
Old Matha Gummersal 'ad a mule an' it wor very poor.

2
Old Matha and 'is mule fell aht and 'e turned it aht o' t' door,
'E turned it aht o' t' door, 'e turned it aht o' t' door,
Old Matha and 'is mule fell aht and 'e turned it aht o' t' door.

3
An' then 'e went a-seekin' it all o'er bi 'Arts'ead Moor,
All o'er bi 'Arts'ead Moor, all o'er bi 'Arts'ead Moor,
An' then 'e went a-seekin' it all o'er bi 'Arts'ead Moor.

4
An' dahn behind the coil pit the poor old mule did spy,
The poor old mule did spy, the poor old mule did spy,
Dahn behind the coil pit the poor old mule did spy.

5
An' some wor liftin' it at it' 'eead an' some wor at it' tail,
An' some wor at it' tail, an' some wor at it' tail,
An' some wor liftin' it at it' 'eead an' some wor at it' tail.

6
But all the liftin' wor in vain for t' poor old mule wor deead,
For t' poor old mule wor deead, for t' poor old mule wor deead,
But all the liftin' wor in vain for t' poor old mule wor deead.

This is a traditional song

Provenance

This song appears to be unique as no other versions have yet come to light. It comes from the singing of Mrs Wilson of Wyke, Bradford, and was recorded by Mary and Nigel Hudleston and published in their Songs of the Ridings, 2001, p117. We are grateful to Hilary, a director of Yorkshire Dales Workshop and one of our volunteers, for singing and recording this for us.

Hartshead Moor lies between Wyke and Cleckheaton, nowadays crossed by the M62. The name Gummersal is also very local, the village of Gomersal lying to the east of Cleckheaton.

The tune appears to be related to one common in the nursery for such songs as Bye Baby Bunting, A-tisket-a-tasket, and chanting the alphabet.