MacColl and Seeger had it as #34 in the 'Men at Work' section of 'The Singing Ireland' [page 39]. There are minor differences to the versions given above. Interestingly, it has 'hungry grosets'. No source given, only this note:

It is unusual to find a completely sympathetic portrait of a farmer in a bothy song for the bothy heroes are the ploughmen and the horses that they drive. The farmer is usually the enemy, the mean unscrupulous exploiter who drives his men hard, starves his horses and generally plays the villain. In this song, however, the farmer is portrayed as a kindly paternal figure. The thread of tender irony which runs through the text helps to make the portrait a realistic one. The song provides an interesting picture of life on a large farm during harvest time. [Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl 'The Singing Island' Mills Music Ltd 1960, p 36.]

The suggestion by S&M is that the song be sung 'Confidentially'.


--Stewie.