This is an exhilarating moment for me: the first discussion in the Mudcat Cafe of one of my several hundred transcriptions.
Thanks VERY much to Jeri for your kind remarks. I'm glad you like it: it represents many hours days weeks and months of my life.
Thanks to Malcolm Douglas for your comments. I remember thinking about "woe" (which is in the first stanza) and "whoa" (which is contradicted by the rest of the line). I rather like BigMalc's suggestion of "wo", actually, but I've followed the erudite MD and put "whoa".
As for "waggon": the COED prefers "wagon", but I've followed Topic's editor, out of respect.
cheers, Garry
Jolly Waggoners
When first I went a-waggoning, a-waggoning did go
Well it filled my poor old parents' hearts with sorrow grief and woe
And many are the hardships that since I've undergone.
- Chorus (after each verse):
- Sing whoa my lads, sing whoa, drive on my lads, drive on
Who wouldn't be for all the world a jolly waggoner.
When it's belting down with rain, my lads, I get wetted to the skin
But I bear it with contented heart until I reach the inn
And I sit down a drinking with the landlord and his kin.
Well, things is greatly altered now and waggons few are seen
The world's turned topsy-turvy, lads, and things are run be steam
And the whole world passes before me just like a morning dream.
Ay, things is greatly altered now but then what can us do
The folks in power all take no heed to the likes of me and you
It's hardship for us workmen, lads, and a fortune for the few.
Well, Martinmas is coming, lads, what pleasures we shall see
Like chaff before the winds, my lads, we'll make our money flee
And every lad shall take his lass and he'll have her on his knee.
Acknowledgements
Transcribed by Garry Gillard. Corrections following discussion in the Mudcat Café.