This is a familiar folk song that has been sung by many, including Pete Seeger and Peter, Paul and Mary. I heard it once at a party, but it was the sort of party where you could barely make out what was being sung. When I was finally able to track down the lyrics, they turned out to have nothing to do with the longing and regret that I heard in Peter Yarrow's voice -- just a foolish man who made a bad bet. So I wrote the song I thought I heard.
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Stewball
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Stewball was a racehorse,
I wish he were mine--
He never drank water,
He only drank wine.
His bridle was silver,
His mane it was gold,
And the worth of his saddle,
Has never been told.
And I was his jockey,
Almost 'til the end.
His feet were my fortune,
And he was my friend.
I rode him one Sunday,
We almost could fly!
But I felt he was ailing,
I can't tell you why.
So I went to his owner.
I gave it my best,
"Let's take this race easy,
Or just let him rest."
But he told me to shut up,
"That horse is just tired,"
So I lost my fool temper,
And he tells me I'm fired.
So I couldn't ride Stewball,
It was out of my hands--
I watched someone else ride him
And sat in the stands.
And way out yonder,
Ahead of them all,
Came a prancing and a dancing--
My noble Stewball!
And he won that fool horse race,
Lord, he won it with ease.
Then he stopped and looked dizzy,
And fell to his knees.
I jumped over the railing
And he twisted his head;
He was lookin' right at me,
Then Stewball was dead.
Stewball was a racehorse.
That was long, long ago.
Whether I could have saved him,
I really don't know.
But if I lose some weight now,
Like I know that I can,
And I give up this whiskey,
I'll be a jockey again.
'Cause way up yonder,
There's a place, so I'm told,
Where the jockeys are weightless,
And the track's paved with gold.
There's a neighing like thunder,
There are hoofbeats like drums--
And a-prancing and a-dancing,
Like lightning, he comes!
Stewball was a racehorse,
I wish he'd been mine--
He never drank water,
He only drank wine.
Now I only drink whiskey,
And through it I see,
With prancing and dancing,
He's coming for me!