We shepherds are the best of men,
That e'er trod English ground;
When we come to an alehouse
We value not a crown.
We spend our money freely,
We pay before we go;
There's no ale on the wolds,
Where the stormy winds do blow.

(Chorus)
We spend our money freely,
We pay before we go;
There's no ale on the wolds,
Where the stormy winds do blow.


A man that is a shepherd
Does need a valiant heart,
He must not be faint-hearted,
But boldly do his part.
He must not be faint-hearted,
Be it rain, or frost, or snow,
With no ale on the wolds
Where the stormy winds do blow.

(Chorus)
He must not be faint-hearted,
Be it rain, or frost, or snow,
With no ale on the wolds
Where the stormy winds do blow.

When I kept sheep on Blockley Hills
It made my heart to ache
To see the ewes hang out their tongues
And hear the lambs to bleat;
Then I plucked up my courage
And o'er the hills did go,
And penned them in the fold
While the stormy winds did blow.

(Chorus)
Then I plucked up my courage
And o'er the hills did go,
And penned them in the fold
While the stormy winds did blow.


As soon as I had folded them
I turned me back in haste
Unto a jovial company
Good liquor for to taste;
For drink and jovial company
They are my heart's delight,
Whilst my sheep lie asleep
All the fore-part of the night.

(Chorus)
For drink and jovial company
They are my heart's delight,
Whilst my sheep lie asleep
All the fore-part of the night.


abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Lucy Broadwood and J A Fuller Maitland. 1893, English County Songs, Leadenhall Press, London

Notes:
Lucy Broadwood's notes are given below:

The first verse was taken from the recitation of a lady born at Stoke, Gloucestershire in 1793; the remaining verses were recovered from Thomas Coldicote, shepherd. of Ebrington, Gloucestershire. Blockley, referred to in verse 3, is in the parish adjoining Ebrington. Possibly it was usual for the singer to fill in a local name in the place.

Roud: 284 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: