Money makes the mare go

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on May 24, 2008 at 17:41

In Reply to: Money makes the mare go posted by Smokey Stover on May 24, 2008 at 16:33:

: : : What is the meaning of this phrase "money makes the mare go" and in which condition we can use it?

: : It's a traditional English nursery rhyme. The whole rhyme is:

: : Will you lend me your mare to ride a mile?
: : - No, she is lame leaping over a stile.
: : - Alack! and I must go to the fair!
: : I'll give you good money for lending your mare.
: : - Oh, oh! say you so?
: : Money will make the mare to go.

: : It's very old - this version comes from a manuscript of 1609 in the British Museum:

: : Wilt thou lend me thy mare to ride but a mile?
: : No, she's lame goinge over a stile.
: : but if thou wilt her to me spare,
: : thou shalt have mony for thy mare.
: : ho ho say you soe
: : mony shall make my mare to goe.

: : So the phrase means that if you are prepared to pay enough, most people will be willing to do something that at first they said they wouldn't or couldn't do. (VSD)

: Tom Pierce, Tom Pierce, lend me your grey mare.
: All along, out along, down along lee,
: For I want for to go to Widdecombe Fair,
: Wi' Will Brewer, Dan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davey, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, old Uncle Tom Cobbleigh and all--
: Old Uncle Tom Cobbleigh and all!

: Did I leave anything out? I thought I'd take a chance and repeat it from memory.
: SS

No, you got them all. That's a quite different song, though! (VSD)

• Money makes the mare go Smokey Stover 29/May/08