I always feel so uncultured when I discover stuff like this...I didn't know there was a real song! Anyway, I found it interesting and figured someone else might, too.



The Ups and Downs

As I was goin' to Aylesbury all on a market day
A pretty little Aylesbury girl I met upon the way
Her business was to market with butter, cheese and whey

And we both joined on together, me boys, fa-ra-la-diddle-a-day (2x)

As we joined on together, me boys, together side by side
By chance this fair maid's garter, by chance it came untied
For fear that she might lose it, I unto her did say

"Oh your garter's come untied, me love, fa-ra-la-diddle-a-day (2x)

As we rode on together, me boys, to the outskirts of the town
At length this fair young damsel, she stopped looked 'round
"Oh since you've been so venturesome, pray tie it on for me"

-"Oh, I will if you go to the apple grove, fa-ra-la-diddle-a-day" (2x)

And when we got to the apple grove, the grass was growin' high
I laid this girl upon her back, her garter for to tie
While tying of her garter, such sights I never did see

And we both joined on together, me boys, fa-ra-la-diddle-a-day (2x)

"Oh, since you had your will to me, come tell to me your name
Likewise your occupation and where and whence you came"
-"Me name is Mickey the drover boy, from Dublin town come I

And I live at the side of the Ups and Downs, fa-ra-la-diddle-a-day" (2x)

And when she got to Aylesbury, her butter was not sold
And the losing of her maidenhead it made her blood run cold
"He's gone, he's gone, he's gone" she said "he's not the lad for me

For he lives at the side of the Ups and Downs, fa-ra-la-diddle-a-day" (2x)


recorded by Steeleye Span on "Parcel Of Rogues" (1973)

I'm sorry, I've missed the reference?

Steeleye Span are great, and I know Pterry is a fan, because I asked him about it once. Garner and I are going to Aylesbury tomorrow, as it happens.

I think the reference is to the ins-and-outs, in MR.

Oh, I see.

There are any number of folk stories and songs referenced in Discworld, to the point that it just seems like background to me. The entirety of Monstrous Regiment could be seen as a parody of a whole group of folk songs.

And pantomimes

Although to be fair, even Shakespeare wrote stories about girls dressing up as boys...

Drawing on an ancient tradition of folk songs and stories! Pterry is a big fan of folk music and referred to a number of such songs in interviews about MR. A lot of them are about women called Polly, too.