As I was going to Derby,
Upon a market day,
I saw the biggest ram, sir,
That was ever fed with hay,
That was ever fed with hay.
The ram was fat behind, sir,
The ram was fat before,
He measured ten yards round, sir,
I think it was no more,
I think it was no more.
The wool grew on his back, sir,
It reached to the sky,
And there the eagles built their nests,
I heard the young ones cry,
I heard the young ones cry.
The wool grew on his belly, sir,
And reached to the ground,
'Twas sold in Derby town, sir,
For forty thousand pounds,
For forty thousand pounds.
The wool upon his tail, sir,
Filled more than fifty bags,
You had better keep away, sir,
When that tail shakes and wags,
When that tail shakes and wags.
The horns upon his head, sir,
Were as high as a man could reach,
And there they built a pulpit, sir,
The Quakers for to preach,
The Quakers for to preach.
And he who knocked this ram down,
Was drowned in the blood,
And he that held the dish, sir,
Was carried away by the flood,
Was carried away by the flood.
And all the boys in Derby, sir,
Came begging for his eyes,
To kick about the streets, sir,
As any good football flies,
As any good football flies.
The mutton that the ram made,
Gave the whole army meat,
And what was left, I'm told, sir,
Was served out to the fleet,
Was served out to the fleet.
Oh, as I was going to Derby,
Upon a market day,
I saw the biggest ram, sir,
That was ever fed with hay,
That was ever fed with hay.