The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #19936   Message #205718
Posted By: McGrath of Harlow
02-Apr-00 - 04:34 PM
Thread Name: Twa Corbies
Subject: Lyr Add: IS MY TEAM PLOUGHING?
Right,,here I am:

'Is my team ploughing,
That I was used to drive
And hear the harness jingle
When I was man alive?'

Ay, the horses trample,
The harness jingles now;
No change though you lie under
The land you used to plough.

'Is football playing
Along the river shore,
With lads to chase the leather,
Now I stand up no more?'

Ay, the ball is flying,

The lads play heart and soul;
The goal stands up, the keeper
Stands up to keep the goal.

'Is my girl happy,
That I thought hard to leave,
And has she tired of weeping
As she lies down at eve?'

Ay, she lies down lightly,
She lies not down to weep:
Your girl is well contented.
Be still, my lad, and sleep.

'Is my friend hearty,
Now I am thin and pine,
And has he found to sleep in
A better bed than mine?'

Yes, lad, I lie easy,
I lie as lads would choose;
I cheer a dead man's sweetheart,
Never ask me whose.

I used to like the "cynical" Scottish version better; now I'm finding I tend to prefer the "romantic" English version - Roy Bailey did a lovely rendering of it on a children's record years ago, and probably since as well. I was wondering, is this a song that's ever been collected in an Irish version?