Song Meaning
The lyrics open with a stark declaration: the legendary figures of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and Little John are "gone-a." This immediately establishes a sense of loss, signaling an end to an era of communal joy where even the "hobby horse was quite forgot." It's a poignant snapshot of tradition fading into memory.
This sense of a bygone era immediately gives way to a focus on Kemp, who now dances "alone-a." The shift from a legendary ensemble to a solitary performer creates a quiet tension, suggesting a world where shared merriment has been replaced by individual endeavor. His dancing isn't just for fun; he "did labor" after the tabor, implying a more strenuous, perhaps less spontaneous, effort.
The lyrics then reveal Kemp's ambition, as he travels "into France" specifically "in hope of gains." This transformation of dance from a community ritual to a professional pursuit, where he "took pains to skip it," underscores a pragmatic, almost entrepreneurial spirit. The art becomes a means to an end, a stark contrast to the implied carefree spirit of the past.
The final line, "Diddle diddle diddle doe," offers a fascinating rhythmic flourish. It's a simple, almost childlike sound that seems to encapsulate the persistent, fundamental rhythm of the dance itself, even as its context and motivation have profoundly changed. It suggests that despite the loss of legend and the shift to labor, the core act of movement endures, perhaps as a defiant, simple joy amidst the pursuit of "gains."
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