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The Old Gray Mare Trivia Quiz

This is a mixed questions quiz about the enduring and well-known folk song 'The Old Gray Mare'. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by froggyx. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
froggyx

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
358,049

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
298

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who composed the song 'The Old Gray Mare'? Hint

John Knowles Paine

Thomas Francis McNulty

Etilmon J. Stark

John Edgar Gould

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Question 2 of 10

2. Please complete the lyrics:
"The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be,
Many _________.
Many _________, many _________.
The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be,
Many_________."

Answer: (Three Words - just once)

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Question 3 of 10

3. From the lyrics: 'The old gray mare, she kicked on the whiffletree'.
What is a 'whiffletree'? Hint

An oyster cart

Doh, a tree of course!

Another word for a leader-bar of the harness/carriage mechanism

It was the name of another horse

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Question 4 of 10

4. The last words from the lyrics of 'The Old Gray Mare' are:
"Many more years to go".

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. In Bing Crosby's version of 'The Old Gray Mare', whom does he tell to hang down their head? Hint

The Queen

Pam Wooley

Mr President

Tom Dooley

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Question 6 of 10

6. In an episode of 'The Simpsons', which character sings the song 'The Old Gray Mare'? Hint

Krusty the Clown

Old Jewish Man

Mr Burns

Homer

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Question 7 of 10

7. What appears as unusual about the person who sings 'The Old Gray Mare' in 'The Simpsons'' episode? Hint

He is wearing his trousers dangling around his ankles

He is wearing a Hannibal Lecter mask

There is nothing unusual about him

He is wearing odd socks

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Question 8 of 10

8. For which athletics teams of a University in Kentucky does the song 'The Old Gray Mare' serve as a cynical fight song? Hint

Kentucky State University

Morehead State University

Murray State University

University of Louisville

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following traditional folk songs uses the same repetitive pattern as the song 'The Old Gray Mare'? Hint

The Bold Grenadier

Scarborough Fair

Over the Hills and Far Away

London Bridge is Falling Down

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following artists recorded their version of the song 'The Old Gray Mare' in 1960, and retitled it 'Baby Baby Bye Bye'? Hint

Johnny Cash

Tom Jones

Elvis Presley

Jerry Lee Lewis

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who composed the song 'The Old Gray Mare'?

Answer: Thomas Francis McNulty

Although 'The Old Gray Mare' is registered as 'unknown' composer, it has generally been accepted and understood that Thomas Francis McNulty was responsible for writing this song and he has been credited as such.

2. Please complete the lyrics: "The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Many _________. Many _________, many _________. The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Many_________."

Answer: long years ago

Remember the lyrics:

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.

It was rumoured that the song was written about the horse 'Lady Suffolk'. She was the first noted trotting horse who raced under saddle and finished one mile under two minutes thirty seconds, and that at the age of ten years old.

3. From the lyrics: 'The old gray mare, she kicked on the whiffletree'. What is a 'whiffletree'?

Answer: Another word for a leader-bar of the harness/carriage mechanism

The whiffletree (or whippletree) can also be called a double tree or equalizer, and it is basically a cross-shaped wooden bar that connects a harnessed animal to a cart.

4. The last words from the lyrics of 'The Old Gray Mare' are: "Many more years to go".

Answer: false

The last words of the song are actually "Many long years ago". Yes, the lyrics ARE very repetitive!

5. In Bing Crosby's version of 'The Old Gray Mare', whom does he tell to hang down their head?

Answer: Tom Dooley

The song starts with the lyrics:
"Hang down your head Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry
Hang down your head Tom Dooley
Poor boy you're bound to die."
It is included on Bing Crosby's 'On The Sentimental Side' album, which was recorded in 1962.

6. In an episode of 'The Simpsons', which character sings the song 'The Old Gray Mare'?

Answer: Old Jewish Man

The character known as 'Old Jewish Man' appears in 'Krusty Gets Kancelled' when he sings the song.

7. What appears as unusual about the person who sings 'The Old Gray Mare' in 'The Simpsons'' episode?

Answer: He is wearing his trousers dangling around his ankles

The Old Jewish Man's trousers dangle around his ankles and he wears a distinctive pair of oversized white boxer shorts with a pink polka dot pattern.

8. For which athletics teams of a University in Kentucky does the song 'The Old Gray Mare' serve as a cynical fight song?

Answer: Murray State University

A fast version of this song is played every time the football team of the Murray State University scores a goal in their own stadium. While the song is played, a (real) thoroughbred racehorse runs around the track, which emphasizes the effect.

9. Which of the following traditional folk songs uses the same repetitive pattern as the song 'The Old Gray Mare'?

Answer: London Bridge is Falling Down

Another song that adopted the pattern of 'The Old Gray Mare' is the American folk song 'Great Green Gobs of Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts'.

10. Which of the following artists recorded their version of the song 'The Old Gray Mare' in 1960, and retitled it 'Baby Baby Bye Bye'?

Answer: Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis, who has been labelled 'The Killer', is an American musician and singer-song writer born in 1935.

Source: Author froggyx

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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