Description
Arrangement of Thomas Weelkes’ three part madrigal “Since Robin Hood, Maid Marion and Little John are gone-ah”
The song follows the Shakespearean actor Will Kemp on his trip to France, dancing all the way.
Kemp played the clownish characters in all of Shakespeare’s productions at the Globe Theatre, until – eventually – the two fell out. Kemp then decided to prove the full extent of his zaniness by dancing all the way from London to Norwich in less than ten days (hence the epithet “nine days’ wonder”).
Shortly after this he took on an even more adventurous plan – to dance all the way to Italy, via France and the Alps. The book “Shakespeare’s Clown” by David Wiles, can provide further information if required.
Since Robin Hood, Maid Marian,
And Little John are gone-a,
The hobby horse was quite forgot,
When Kemp did dance alone-a.
He did labour after the tabor.
For to dance then into France.
He took pains to skip it
In hope of gains.
He did trip it
On the toe,
diddle diddle diddle doe.