Dan the Red Nose: An English Folk Song with An Appalachian Rebel Twist

Here’s an old favorite: “Dan the Red Nose” words by Michael Kline, adapted from “The Cutty Wren.”

“The Cutty Wren” is a song that refers to the hunting of wrens on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26th) an old tradition found across parts of Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man. Variants of the song can be found across the Anglo-Celtic Isles. The earliest version known was printed in 1776, likely from Northern England/the Scottish Lowlands. 

In the 20th century, this song became associated with the English Peasants Revolt of 1381, with the wren believed to represent the king being killed and his riches distributed to the poor. To the best of my knowledge, there is not a direct connection between this song and the rebellion (even though this connection is often declared as fact). However, it’s an inspiring way to learn about the revolt, and has led to further rebel-themed adaptations, like this song!

In the 1960s, communities, land and water across Appalachia were facing a crisis of devastation brought on by mountaintop removal coal mining, a form of strip mining that brutally clear cuts forests, blows up ancient topsoil, buries and pollutes water sources, and sickens people. Locals quickly found that they didn’t have the legal right to prevent strip mining on their own land, so some took it upon themselves to destroy the equipment that was destroying their hillsides, streams, family cemeteries and homes. 

This song is positioned as a dialogue between two parties- one that’s going off to cause some mischief, and another person inquiring what everyone is up to. Dan the Red Nose, in a case of bad security culture, is always spilling the beans- but in doing so educates us about this historic act of rebellion. Songs like this are a vital way to remember the actions that are often necessarily kept quiet, the forms of resistance that can’t be spoken of when they take place, but that future generations need to remember. 

And of course, here’s my disclaimer that no one should ever commit property destruction- it’s dangerous and illegal. This is for historical education only. 

Dan the Red Nose

Written by Michael Kline, adapted from Scots/English/Welsh song “The Cutty Wren”

“Oh where are you going?” said Steven to Gordon.

“Oh we may not tell you,” said Bethel to those.

“We’re off to the woods.” said Dan the Red Nose,

“We’re off to the woods,” said Dan the Red Nose.

“And what will you do there?” said Steven to Gordon.

“Oh we may not tell you,” said Bethel to those.

“We’ll blow the big dozer,” said Dan the Red Nose,

“We’ll blow the big dozer,” said Dan the Red Nose.

“And how will you blow it up?” said Steven to Gordon,

“Oh we may not tell you,” said Bethel to those.

“With hot lead and powder!” said Dan the Red Nose,

“With hot lead and powder!” said Dan the Red Nose.