The Old Gray Mare

History

Some authors have said that the song originated based upon the performance of the horse Lady Suffolk, the first horse recorded as trotting a mile in less than two and a half minutes. It occurred on 4 July 1843 at the Beacon Course racetrack in Hoboken, New Jersey, when she was more than ten years old. One author attributed the song to Stephen Foster, although the composer is usually listed as unknown. The archival evidence, however, is that the song originated a few decades later in the nineteenth century as a campaign ditty, composed as an epithet of Baltimore mayor Ferdinand Latrobe by Democratic Party (United States) political operative and appointee Thomas Francis McNulty. The book The Gallant Gray Trotter featured Lady Suffolk.

Lyrics

The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Ain't what she used to be, ain't what she used to be, The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Many long years ago. Many long years ago, many long years ago, The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Many long years ago. The old gray mare, she kicked on the whiffletree, Kicked on the whiffletree, kicked on the whiffletree, The old gray mare, she kicked on the whiffletree, Many long years ago. Many long years ago, many long years ago, The old gray mare, she kicked on the whiffletree, Many long years ago.

(Note that "mule" is sometimes substituted for "mare".)

(A whiffletree is a force-distributing mechanism in the traces of a draft animal. As an energetic younger horse, the mare still had the spirit to kick even though she was harnessed up to pull a plow or similar.)

Pattern

The repetitive pattern of the song is common to many traditional folk songs, including London Bridge is Falling Down. The melodic system of the two songs is also similar, with the middle of the three repetitions of the phrase being sung to a similar melody, but down a scale degree. The melody has also been used in American songs such as Ain't I Glad I Got out the Wilderness and Ain't You Glad You Joined the Republicans, and in turn is related to the melody of the spiritual Go in the Wilderness.