Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Bert
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 11:29 PM

Wow where did you here the Dog Spot part ? I thought that was exclusive to a YHA group in Essex.

One man went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
one man and his dog
Went to mow a meadow.

That's the English "School" version, not the Cecil Sharpe collected one. And as Willa says it accumulates to
ten men, nine men, eight men, seven men.....one man and his dog went to mow a meadow.

I never heard the "woof" though, sounds great.

We used to sing it...

One man went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
one man and his dog
Spot, a bottle of pop,
a sausage roll,
an old tin can, a frying pan,
Old Mother Riley and her cow,
Went to mow a meadow.

Bert.

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I added the boldface type, because these appear to be the definitive lyrics, believe it or not.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 09:10 PM

Counting Songs  -2 versions.

One man shall mow my meadow  -Click  HERE  for midi.

The Mower  -Click  HERE  for midi.

Malcolm

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Thread #11190   Message #82823
Posted By: JB3 (inactive)
30-May-99 - 03:24 AM
Thread Name: Counting Songs
Subject: RE: Counting Songs

I've a one man, I've a two men to mow down the meadow
I've a three men, I've a four men to carry the hay away
Me four, me three, me two, me one and all lots more
To mow the hay, to carry it away
On a beautiful midsummer's morn.

I've a five men, I've a six men to mow down the meadow
I've a seven men, I've an eight men to carry the hay away
Me eight, me seven, me six, me five
Me four, me three, me two, me one, and all lots more
To mow the hay, to carry it away
On a beautiful midsummer's morn.

Don't know the name of this one, heard it sung by a folk group called Spinning Wheel. Seems to be related to "One Man Shall Mow My Meadow" tho the tune is bouncier.

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Thread #11190   Message #82834
Posted By: Philippa
30-May-99 - 05:27 AM
Thread Name: Counting Songs
Subject: RE: Counting Songs

it seems I learned (in N Ireland) a much simplified version of JB3's contribution:
One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow
One man and his dog, went to mow a meadow

Two men went to mow, went to mow a meadow
Two men, one man and his dow, went to mow a meadow

Three men... three men, two men, one man and his dog (etc)

(the pattern reminds me a bit of the Rattling Bog or The Old Woman who swallowed a fly - but those don't count numbers


There were ten in the bed and the little one said "roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over and one fell out
There were nine in the bed and the little one said:
"Please remeber to tie a know in your pyjamas,
Single beds were only meant for [shouted:]one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,
[sung]Nine in the bed and the little one said...
....there were eight in the bed and the little one said,
"Please remember...single beds were only meant for 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7,
Eight in the bed....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 04:06 PM

Another version is "One may shall shear my Wethers" in Frank Purlsow's 'Marrow Bone'. In some songs 'mowing her meadow' is a euphemism, as in "The Mower" that A. L. Lloyd sings on the LP 'The Best of A. L. Lloyd', Prestige-International 13066.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: GUEST,willa
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 03:42 PM

One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow
One man and his dog,(Woof)
Went to mow a meadow

Succeding verses (ad infinitum, though usually up to about ten)count down, eg

ten men went to mow, went to mow a meadow
ten men, nine men, eight men, seven men.....one man and his dog(Woof)
went to mow a meadow

The version collected by Cecil Sharp is similar

One man shall mow my mow my meadow, two men shall gather it together
two men, one man, and one more
shall shear my lambs and ewes and rams
and gather my gold together


etc five men shall mow my meadow
six men shall gather it together
six men , five men, four men, thr......
shall shear my lambs and ewes and rams
and gather my gold together

Subject: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Owlkat
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 02:29 PM

Hi, This is a kids song. I vaguely recall that it goes...

One fine day a man
Went to mow a meadow
Something something something
Bottle of pop
My dog spot
Went to mow a meadow

It builds and gets longer and longer with each verse.
Your serve
Owl.