Anonymous, recorded by many. Originally “Skewball.” See Wikipedia article.
Stewball
Anonymous
This version as performed by Peter, Paul and Mary.
[G]
Old Stewball was a racehorse,
[Am]
And I wish he were mine.
[D]
He never drank water,
[G] [C] [G]
He only drank wine.
His bridle was silver,
And his mane it was gold,
And the worth of his saddle
Has never been told.
Oh the fairgrounds were crowded,
And Stewball was there,
But the betting was heavy
On the bay and the mare.
As they were approaching,
About half way around,
The gray mare she stumbled
and fell to the ground.
And away out yonder,
Ahead of them all,
Came a-prancing and a-dancing,
My noble Stewball.
I bet on the gray mare
And I bet on the bay.
If I'd bet on old Stewball
I'd be a free man today.
Oh the hoot owl she hollers,
And the turtle dove moans.
I'm a poor boy in trouble.
I'm a long way from home.
Old Stewball was a racehorse,
And I wish he were mine.
He never drank water,
He only drank wine.All content on this page is the property of copyright owner of the original composition. This version is for scholarly or research purposes only.
Call and response version by Lead Belly:
Way out in California where Stewball was born
All the jockeys in the country said he blew there in a storm
Just bet on Stewball and you might win win win
Bet on Stewball and you might win
Was a big day in Dallas don’t you wish you was there
You could bet your last dollar on that iron grey mare
Just bet on Stewball and you might win win win
Bet on Stewball and you might win
The big drum was a bangin’ and the word was give an run
Oh Stewball was a tremblin’ like a criminal to be hung
Just bet on Stewball and you might win win win
Bet on Stewball and you might win
When the horses were saddled and the word was give an go
All the horses they shot out like an arrow from a bow
Just bet on Stewball and you might win win win
Bet on Stewball and you might win
Oh Stewball was a racehorse oh Molly was too
Oh Stewball gotten old molly right out of her shoe
Just bet on Stewball and you might win win win
Bet on Stewball and you might win
The old folks they a holler’n the young folks they ball
The children say look look at that noble Stewball
Just bet on Stewball and you might win win win
Bet on Stewball and you might win
You bet on Stewball and you might win win win
Bet on Stewball and you might win