The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #68788   Message #1161260
Posted By: GEST
13-Apr-04 - 07:16 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BROTHERS (Al Boyce)
Sorry to say, Suzanne, I do not have the rest, but while searching, I came across a very obscure PDF file containing a speech with a song and seven of the same words you referenced buried half way through it. I couldn't help but translate the file into text and put it here for posterity. Who knows? Someday, someone may ask for it and here it will be, thanks to you. :-)

The Brothers by Al Boyce (2002)



There was once a rancher who lived on a stream,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
There was once a rancher who lived on a stream,
With his wife and fine sons he was living a dream;
And the wind will forget why they came.

His cattle were many, his lands they were great,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
His cattle were many, his lands they were great,
With wine in his goblet, and meat on his plate;
And the wind will forget why they came.


Across the wide river, his brother did farm,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
Across the wide river, his brother did farm,
With the sweat of his brow and the strength of his arm;
And the wind will forget why they came.


Oats, hay and barley he drew from the land,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
Oats, hay and barley he drew from the land,
Sold as feed for the cows for sparse tuppence in hand;
And the wind will forget why they came.


He said to his brother, "My babies are wan."
Oh, you seasons roll over.
He said to his brother, "My babies are wan,
With milk from your cows they would grow well again."
And the wind will forget why they came.


"No," the rancher replied, "my milk is for sale."
Oh, you seasons roll over.
"No," the rancher replied, "my milk is for sale,
If you raised cows like me, your child would not grow pale."
And the wind will forget why they came.


"Then your cows shall not eat - I'll not sell you my crop."
Oh, you seasons roll over.
"Then your cows shall not eat - I'll not sell you my crop,
Bugger all with your cows, I shall pray they all drop."
And the wind will forget why they came.


"By God," cried the rancher, "you won't starve my cows."
Oh, you seasons roll over.
"By God," cried the rancher, "you won't starve my cows,
I'll away with my sons and possess all you plow."
And the wind will forget why they came.


So the farmer, by night, crossed the river in plot,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
So the farmer, by night, crossed the river in plot,
And he searched out the herd and he poisoned the lot;
And the wind will forget why they came.


When the rancher discovered his brother's black deed,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
When the rancher discovered his brother's black deed,
He burned all the crops and destroyed all the seed;
And the wind will forget why they came.


They met on the bridge with their hearts filled with dread,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
They met on the bridge with their hearts filled with dread,
They levelled their guns and shot each other dead;
And the wind will forget why they came.


Let us put down our hatred, be brothers instead,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
Let us put down our hatred, be brothers instead,
And in peace live together with milk, meat and bread;
And the wind will forget why they came.

With his wife and fine sons he was living a dream;
And the wind will forget why they came.


edited at request of poster - additional linebreaks removed - joeclone