Lyr Req: The Curly Headed Ploughboy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blue Eyed Stranger/Curly Headed Ploughboy
From: VIN
Date: 18 Jun 05 - 07:57 AM

Whoops, i meant to say Ta for the info folks! (better late than never eh/)

Subject: Lyr Req: The culy headed ploughboy
From: GUEST,John Savill
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 02:28 PM

I have seen that this request has been logged before but the cafe was experiencing technical difficulties and the thread seems to have been lost. If anyone has the song I would appreciate a post.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The culy headed ploughboy
From: Mr Happy
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 03:29 PM

What's ' culy ' mean?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The culy headed ploughboy
From: Brendy
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 03:31 PM

Probably a typo... Curly....

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Curly Headed Ploughboy
From: ClaireBear
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 03:45 PM

I know I have those lyrics in a book somewhere at home, but it will take some time to find them...my music books are in wild disarray. Anyone have faster access?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PLOUGHBOY
From: ClaireBear
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 04:19 PM

Success! Found them online, at this site.

I hope these are the words you wanted. They're the same ones I have at home, I'm sure -- but like those, these don't actually include the word "curly."

I remember coming across this lyric while the morris side I played for were dancing Curly-Headed Ploughboy and thinking that this was clearly set to that tune, but wondering about the absence of "curly." Ought the dance to be called "Flaxen Headed Ploughboy" or simply "The Ploughboy," as this site calls it?

These words are evidently from a Benjamin Britten setting; those I have at home are from some quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore -- in other words, from one of the many vintage "Book of a Thousand Songs" type books I always pick up at flea markets and used book sales. I can't swear that this lyric predates Britten, therefore, but I rather think it does.


THE PLOUGHBOY

A flaxen-headed cowboy, as simple as may be,
And next a merry ploughboy, I whistled o'er the lea;
But now a saucy footman, I strut in worsted lace,
And soon I'll be a butler, and whey my jolly face.

When steward I'm promoted I'll snip the tradesmen's bill,
My master's coffers empty, my pockets for to fill.
When lolling in my chariot so great a man I'll be,
You'll forget the little ploughboy who whistled o'er the lea.

I'll buy votes at elections, and when I've made the pelf,
I'll stand poll for the parliament, and then vote in myself.
Whatever's good for me, sir, I never will oppose:
When all my ayes are sold off, why then I'll sell my noes.

I'll joke, harangue and paragraph, with speeches charm the ear,
And when I'm tired on my legs, then I'll sit down a peer.
In court or city honour so great a man I'll be,
You'll forget the little ploughboy who whistled o'er the lea.


Cheers,
Claire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Curly Headed Ploughboy
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 07:36 PM

See also:

The Ploughboy Revisited (1997): transcription from Britten arrangement, plus historical info and, for no apparent reason, an unrelated Newfoundland song stuck on the end 4 years later.

Tune Add: THE PLOUGHBOY (2000): tune in abc format. The only post in a quite long thread that actually dealt with the question asked.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Curly Headed Ploughboy
From: ClaireBear
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 07:48 PM

Malcolm, thank you. Once again I should have looked in the Mudcat world first, but lately my search engine of choice, Clusty, has been so good at finding threads that I assumed it wasn't here. Bad bear, no salmon!

Claire (kicking self in rear)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Curly Headed Ploughboy
From: GUEST,John Savill
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 08:04 AM

Many thanks one and all for the information.A great help
John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Curly Headed Ploughboy
From: nutty
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 11:32 AM

This Bodleian broadside of   A FLAXEN HEADED COW-BOY is attributed to JOHN O'KEEFE (1747 - 1833)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Curly Headed Ploughboy
From: Willa
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 01:33 PM

Nutty's version is the one I have in 'The New Way Song Book'