| Author | Topic: Add: The Bonny Labouring Boy | |
| Pip Freeman | Posted - 18 Apr 04 - 05:16 pm | |
Oh, Johnny was my true love's name as you can plainly see, And my father he employed him his labouring boy to be, To harrow, to reap, and to sow the seed, and to plough my father's land; Very soon I fell in love with him as you may understand. I courted him for six long months but little did I know That cruel was my father; he proved my overthrow, He watched us close one evening down by a shady grove While pledging our vows together in the constant bands of love. My mother come to me one day and this to me did say; 'Oh your father is determined for to appoint your wedding day.' Well nobly I made answer, 'It's with him I'll never comply, For I'd rather live a single life or have my labouring boy.' 'O daughter, dearest daughter, oh why do you talk so strange, To marry a poor labouring boy the wide world for to range? Some noble lord would fancy you better; great riches you could enjoy, So do not throw your life away for a poor labouring boy.' 'O mother, dearest mother, your talk is all in vain. Your kings, lords, dukes or earls, their offer I disdain. I'd rather live a single life, my time for to enjoy, Then increasing nature prosper for my bonny labouring boy.' Five hundred pounds of my best clothes I sold that very night, And with the boy who I love best to Belfast we did fly. His love it has entangled me and the same I'll never deny, And God may speed the plough with my bonny labouring boy. So fill your glasses to the brim, let the toast go merrily round; Here is a health to every labouring man who ploughs and sows the ground, And when his work is over, it's home he'll speed with joy, And happy, happy is the girl who weds the labouring boy. Source: The Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs. Notes: Abridged from The Penguin Book. This song is more popular in England, turning up in Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset and is found in Ireland. It appeared on many nineteenth-century ballad sheets, with the couple fleeing to different places, eg Plymouth rather than Belfast. | ||
| Snuffy | Posted - 20 Apr 04 - 01:03 am | |
Here is a version recorded by John Howson 1985-87 from the singing of Tony Harvey of Tannington, Suffolk, and published by Veteran Tapes on Songs Sung In Suffolk Vol 3 VT103. As I strolled out one morning, all in the blooming spring, I heard a lovely maiden cry, and grievous did she sing How cruel were her parents; they did her so annoy They would not let her marry the bonny labouring boy. Young Johnny was her true love's name as you may plainly see, Her parents they employed him the labouring boy to be, To harrow, plough, and sow the seed, upon her father's land; And soon she fell in love with him as you may understand. She courted him for twelve long months but little did she know That her cruel parents would prove her overthrow, They watched them close one evening down in a shady grove A-plying their joys together in the constant bonds of love. Her father stepp-ed up to her and took her by the hand He swore he'd send young Johnny unto some foreign land He locked her up in her bedroom, her comfort to annoy And he kept her there to weep and mourn for her bonny labouring boy. Her mother came next morning and unto her did say; 'Your father did intend not to see you thrown away.' So boldly she made answer, and to her did reply, 'It's single I shall still remain for my bonny labouring boy.' His cheeks were like the roses red, his eyes as black as sloes, He's mild in his behaviour, wherever he may go He's manly, neat and handsome; his skin as white as snow For the sake of my parent's malice, I with my labouring boy shall go. So come fill your glasses to the brim, and let them go merrily round; Here's a health to every labouring boy that plough and till the ground, For when his work is over, to his home he goes with joy, And happy is the girl who gets the bonny labouring boy. | ||
| Pip Freeman | Posted - 20 Apr 04 - 12:41 pm | |
Thanks Snuffy, it's always interesting to hear variations on a song. Do you possess the tapes of 'Songs sung in Suffolk'? It's not easy to get hold of old books and music and it's good to hear of someone who posseses any and will share them. We have a very good shop in Holt, Norfolk who hold an excellent stock of classical CD, and who will search and find tapes for you if it is possible. | ||
| Snuffy | Posted - 22 Apr 04 - 02:06 pm | |
I only have Tape 3, "Old Songs and Ballads", of 'Songs sung in Suffolk'. There were 6 tapes in the set plus a book of the same name containing "biographical information and photographs of the singers, and extensive notes on the songs". I believe Veteran Tapes have now re-released some of these on CDs | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 22 Apr 04 - 02:57 pm | |
I've just done searching. Veteran have a website at http://www.veteran.co.uk/. The song is available on CD. Songs Sung In Suffolk - V2C2CD. Jon | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 02 May 04 - 04:55 pm | |
Eight editions are at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads. bonny labouring boy [title] | ||