Water not wine - source of the lyric?

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on December 05, 2004

In Reply to: Water not wine - source of the lyric? posted by Lotg on December 05, 2004

: : Spurred by Goddesses admission that she drinks only wine and not beer [Oz wine's nearly as good as South African], who can help me with the second line of this catchy lyric, the title, date, singer and where I can find the full text? It's one of these frustrating tunes that's been going round in my head, and I haven't been able to locate it: Is it Peter, Paul and Mary?

: : Here's the tale of a racehorse
: : [Da da da da da]
: : He never drank water
: : He only drank wine.

: : --Keith

: South African wine's better than ours? Wow, I'll have to try some. I never have, and while I'm thrilled with what we have to offer, I'm always willing to accept there could be better - but ONLY if I can have some. ---GODDESS

Oh, "Stewball" was a racehorse
And I wish he were mine
He never drank water
He only drank wine...

It's a pretty standard folk ballad though there are many versions. Peter, Paul, and Mary did a nice rendition of one version.

There was apparently a match race between a skewbald horse and a grey mare in Ireland in the 18th century that was the inspiration for the song.

• Thanks a million Brian Water not wine - source of the lyric? Keith Rennie 05/December/04
  • Skewbald & piebald Lotg 06/December/04
    • The Monaghan grey mare Henry 06/December/04