I first heard this sang by Jan at an Oakthorpe folk club (Scrag or the Gate), can't even remember if John played I was listening to Jan so closely


THE WOEFUL SCARECROW
(Graeme Miles)

Who would have the scarecrow's life
For even just one day-o
With less than a pauper's clothes to wear
And not a penny in pay-o
No-one comes to talk to me
And I've never scared one crow-o
My lament I'll sing to you
With a heart that's full of sorrow

CHORUS:
Airum Cairum darum
Airum cairum go-o
Airum cairum dairum
Sang the scarecrow full of woe

My hat and coat have gone to rot
And not without good reason
Since I have stood in this very same spot
For season after season
And when the next hard winds do blow
My leg will snap off rotten
The farmer stood me here to stay
And then to be forgotten

I've stood and stared at this five bar gate
With eyes turned ever so sore-o
With arms outstretched I never can rest
After eighteen months and more-o
The sun has never tanned my face
But burnt my neck so raw-o
Is it any wonder that my heart
Is so full of sorrow

When winter's rain comes gushing down
To seep in through my coat-o
I shiver and I quiver in the biting cold
As slowly I am soaked-o
The brim of my hat is torn away
So protection it gives me none-o
With two legs I could turn and run
But alas I've only one-o

So I stand and face the icy blast
Since I cannot turn my head-o
The birds just jeer at me and laugh
And tear my coat to shreds-o
Yet to the farmer I'm still loyal
Though he uses me most cruelly
He'll bury me when I fall
That he must do–o surely

So who would have a scarecrow's life
For even just one day-o
With less than a pauper's clothes to wear
And not a penny in pay-o
No-one comes to talk to me
And I've never scared one crow-o
My lament I'll sing to you
With a heart that's full of sorrow


-she said she thought I'd like it!