(Serving man)
Well met, my brother friend,
All on the highway riding,
So simply all alone;
I pray to tell to me
What calling you may be;
Or are you some serving man?
(Husbandman)
Why, why? my brother dear,
What makes you to enquire
Of any such thing at my hand?
Indeed I will not feign,
But I will tell you plain:
I am a downright husbandman.
(Together)
Indeed I will not feign,
But I will tell you plain:
I am a downright husbandman.
(Serving man)
If a husbandman you be,
Then gang along with me
So readily out of han',
And in a little space
I'll help you to a place
Where you may be a servingman.
(Husbandman)
As for your diligence
I return you many thanks
I require no such thing at your han'
But pray, before you go,
Do something to me show
Of the living of a Serving man.
(Together)
But pray, before you go,
Do something to me show
Of the living of a Serving man.
(Serving man)
The meat that we do eat,
Is the finest of all meat
There's Turkey, Capon and Swan;
And our drink is very fine
We mix sugar in our wine:-
That's victuals for the Serving man.
(Husbandman)
As for your dainty capon,
Give me some beef and bacon,
And a good bit of cheese now and then;
There's chitterlings and souse
Always in the farmer's house:-
That's victuals for the husbandman.
(Together)
There's chitterlings and souse
Always in the farmer's house:-
That's victuals for the husbandman.
(Serving man)
Then the clothing we do wear
Of all clothing is most rare:
Our hats they are laced all around,
Our shirts as white as milk
Our stockings made of silk:-
That's clothing for the serving man.
(Husbandman)
As for your clothing rare
Give me the shoes I wear
The bushes to trample upon;
Give to me a good great coat,
And in my purse a groat:-
That's clothing for the husbandman.
(Together)
Give to me a good great coat,
And in my purse a groat:-
That's clothing for the husbandman.
abc | midi | pdf
Source: Jones Lewis, 1995, Sweet Sussex, Ferret Publ, Sutton Coldfield
Notes:
Reprinted by Ferret Publications from Songs of the Peasantry of the Weald of Surrey and Sussex, arranged by GA Dusart and published privately and anonymously by John Broadwood in 1843.
Roud: 873 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: