The Cutty Wren

Traditional
(Steeleye Span)

"O where are you going?" said Milder to Maulder.
"O we may not tell you," said Festle to Foes.
"We're off to the woods," said John the Red Nose,
"We're off to the woods," said John the Red Nose.

"What will you do there?" said Milder to Maulder.
"O we may not tell you," said Festle to Foes.
"We'll hunt the Cutty Wren," said John the Red Nose,
"Hunt the Cutty Wren," said John the Red Nose.

"How will you shoot her?" said Milder to Maulder.
"O we may not tell you," said Festle to Foes.
"With bows and with arrows," said John the Red Nose,
"Bows and with arrows," said John the Red Nose.

"That will not do then," said Milder to Maulder.
"O what will do then?" said Festle to Foes.
"Big guns and big cannons," said John the Red Nose,
"Guns and big cannons," said John the Red Nose.

"How will you bring her home?" said Milder to Maulder.
"O we may not tell you," said Festle to Foes.
"On four strong men's shoulders," said John the Red Nose,
"Four strong men's shoulders," said John the Red Nose.

"That will not do then," said Milder to Maulder.
"O what will do then?" said Festle to Foes.
"Big carts and big waggons," said John the Red Nose,
"Carts and big waggons," said John the Red Nose.

"How will you cut her up?" said Milder to Maulder.
"O we may not tell you," said Festle to Foes.
"With knives and with forks," said John the Red Nose,
"Knives and with forks," said John the Red Nose.

"That will not do then," said Milder to Maulder.
"O what will do then?" said Festle to Foes.
"Big hatches and cleavers," said John the Red Nose,
"Hatchets and cleavers," said John the Red Nose.

"Who'll get the spare ribs?" said Milder to Maulder.
"O we may not tell you," said Festle to Foes.
"We'll give them all to the poor," said John the Red Nose,
"Give them all to the poor," said John the Red Nose.



The wren is known as the King of the Birds, because there is a
fable in which a competition takes place to decide which bird is
supreme. It is decided that he that flies highest is the monarch. 
The wren craftily hitches a ride on the back of the eagle and
wins.

Also the wren was sacred to the Druids and the custom of catching
and killing wrens at Christmas time would not be incompatible
with this history of reverence.  It would be protected all year
and then ritually slain as a sacrifice at the appropriate time.
As with all possible remnants of ancient religions, their meaning
becomes obscured and their enactment trivialized, and so this
song until recently was attached to the Christmas tradition of
wassailing and the demanding of monies.


On "Time" album by Steeleye Span, 1996