"the somewhat "romantic" 'son of the soil' cover illustration!!" - Jim Carroll
.,,.
I think not, Jim. It is not a 'son of the soil', a ploughman with his horse, but a gentleman's servant [a groom] exercising his master's horse ~

Identified inside back cover as 'Stallion and groom by C F Tunnicliffe' ~

which gives a different gloss and emphasis, of certain class differences, rather than the 'town & country' dichotomy which you seem to read into it. Equally to be found as topic in many of the songs, but not specifically rural.

~Michael~