Drunkard's Horse, The

DESCRIPTION: Conversation between a man and his horse. The man beats the horse; the horse tells the man to leave him alone, as the beast is just doing its job. (They continue on their round of taverns)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1918 (Cecil Sharp collection)
KEYWORDS: animal horse drink
FOUND IN: US(Ro,SE,So)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Sharp-EnglishFolkSongsFromSouthernAppalachians 160, "The Horse's Complaint" (1 text, 1 tune)
Randolph 318, "The Drunkard's Horse" (2 texts plus a fragment, 2 tunes)
Randolph/Cohen-OzarkFolksongs-Abridged, pp. 269-270, "The Drunkard's Horse" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 318A)
Hubbard-BalladsAndSongsFromUtah, #192, "The Old Gray" (1 text)
Browne-AlabamaFolkLyric 161, "The Old Gray Horse" (1 text)
Roud #2799
RECORDINGS:
Warde Ford, "Barefooted in front and no shoes on behind" (AFS 4209 B3, 1939; in AMMEM/Cowell)
NOTES [35 words]: I can't help but think that this story was influenced by the Biblical account of Baalam's Ass (Numbers 22:22-35), which also has a beast of burden talking back to its owner after the owner beat the beast. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.3
File: R318

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