A Conversation for Five Gold Rings
Neutered horses
smudge Started conversation Dec 13, 1999
This is a line that has (like most of the song) been corrupted over time. The original line referred to 'Five geldings' (it does scan you just have to draw out the second word). Such a gift would have been entirely appropriate for a wealthy young gentleman to present (for example) to his intended or his new bride in the late 18th and early 19th century. Unfortunately in the prudish atmosphere of the later Victorian era, references to the absence of horse genetalia were considered unsuitable for Christmas sing-songs in the parlour, hence the change (which frankly makes very little sense).
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Neutered horses
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