Lyr Req: Follow the Ploo (Gaberlunzie)

Subject: Lyr Req: follow the ploo
From: GUEST,gar213
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 04:49 PM

Can any one help me with the words of follow the ploo by Gordon Menzies of Gaberlunzie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: follow the ploo
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 05:53 PM

I've got a song called 'Follow the Blackbird', but nothing with 'ploo'. Which album does it come from?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: follow the ploo
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 05:56 PM

Kate Rusby sings

It was early one morn at the break of the day;
The cocks were a-crowing. The farmer did say:
'Come arise, my good fellows, arise with goodwill,
For you 'osses are waiting their bellie to fill'.

When four o'clock comes round we hastily rise
And into the stable we merrily fly;
A-brushing and a-rubbing away we do go,
For we're all jolly fellows that follow the plough.

When six o'clock comes round at breakfast we meet;
We sit round the table and heartily eat.
A bit in our pocket and away we do go,
For we're all jolly fellows that follow the plough.

The farmer comes round; as he does he will say:
'Wheer 'ast tha bin all on this fine day?
You 'aven't ploughed one acre, I'll swear and I'll vow.
You're all idle fellows that follow the plough'.

The wag'ner stepped out and he made this reply:
'What you have said is a jolly big lie.
We've all ploughed one acre, I'll swear and I'll vow.
We're all jolly fellows that follow the plough'.

The farmer turned round and he laughed at the joke.
He said: ' 'S gone two o'clock, lads, it's time to unyoke,
Unharness them 'osses and rub them down well,
And I'll bring you a pint of my very best ale'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: follow the ploo
From: GUEST,gar213
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 01:26 PM

sorry that is not the words i am looking for . The song is on the travelling man album . thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: follow the ploo
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:35 PM

I don't suppose it's this one either, as it seems to be trad.: North East Folklore Archive

And the boys (well ...) themselves don't include lyrics on their website. Have you tried eMailing them?

Subject: Lyr Add: FOLLOW THE PLOO (from Gaberlunzie)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 07:57 PM

My transcription from the recording I heard on Spotify:
(Note a few gaps and uncertainties. Corrections are welcome.)


FOLLOW THE PLOO
As sung by Gaberlunzie on "The Shire of Kinross" (2009)*

I was born in the country just north o' the Tay,
And I'll never forget whit ma faither did say:
Says he tae me, "Laddie, whatever ye do,
You'll no be a man till ye follow the ploo."
    Singin' doo-diddle-die-dle-doo-die-dum-doo-die-dum-day [after each verse]

So I fee'd tae a fairmer ...(?)
As hardy a chiel as the devil himsel'.
Says he tae me, "Loun, not all wark is for you,
An' when ye're a man, ye can follow the ploo."

I mucked oot his byre and I bedded his kye.
Syne I got thinnin' his neeps by an' by,
But aye there was ae thing I wanted tae do:
Tae yoke up the Clydesdale an' follow the ploo.

I sat by mysel' in the bothy at nicht,
Cleanin' the harness by the dim candle licht,
And Ah learned a' the names as alone I did sit:
The collar, the brace strap, the bridle an' bit.

For leisure we wrestled or pu'd the ...(?)
Or we telt funny stories midst laughter an' glee,
Or played fifty-sixers wi' one in each hand.
Ah wis shair that it quickly wad mak me a man.

Noo one day the fairmer he made me tak hairt.
He says, "Yoke the old ...(?) horse intae yer cairt."
Then he tellt me the grip an' the words for to say,
And he sent me awa tae fell(?) neeps for the day.

But ah'm feart that I'll nae get tae follow the ploo,
For the times they are changin' an' we maun change, too.
They've sellt a' the horses, boucht tractors instead,
An' the stable's been turnt tae a great tractor shed.

Ay, the times they are changin' an' I maun change too,
Though I'll no hae a chance noo tae follow the ploo.
I'm as much o' a man as I'm likely tae be,
Ay, an' yoked tae a tractor, the ploo follows me.


[* Also on Gaberlunzie's "The Travelling Man" (2003).]

[Any idea what "fifty-sixers" are?]