Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones

Subject: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew The Plough
From: melodeonboy
Date: 29 May 07 - 01:12 PM

Could anybody help me with the lyrics for this? I've got the tune in my head from listening to it (i.e. the Nic Jones version) on replay over and over again, but I've managed to lose the lyrics which I painstakingly transcribed! And I've just got to sing and play it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew The Plough
From: melodeonboy
Date: 30 May 07 - 06:17 PM

'ere, where are my lyrics???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew The Plough
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 03:18 AM

Hi Mr MelBoy!!

In case you missed it, there is just about 3 days left to listen to last weeks Mike Harding show, (BBC Radio2) where they played Grandfather (The Peel Session) as the most voted for archive "Song of the Month".
Have to admit there are a few words that I can't make out too!
And, maybe of slight interest, Nic can't even remember recording it, and didn't think it was worth putting on Unearthed...!!!
I argued differently, but to no avail!
So, this might be your last chance to hear it.
Enjoy
Ralphie

Subject: Lyr Add: MY GRANDFATHER KNEW THE PLOUGH
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 10:51 AM

With uncertainties in italics and bits I cannot decipher in square brackets.

MY GRANDFATHER KNEW THE PLOUGH
(Nic Jones?)

O my grandfather knew the plough
He [      ] along far before the swallow came to stay
He could tell the weather by a brinded sky at night be gold or grey
Yes the ploughman had his place and in good grace
Spring grain waved in the sun when summer came

Now the ploughman he had his trade
His gear and tackle trimmed all in the spring
Under sacks he walked the road sheltering from the April winds
And was potted and peaced with care [      ]
He'd sing a harvest home when autumn came

Now my grandfather walked the lanes
When the thin rain come oozing through the thorn
Making for the higher ground to find the ewes and rams when they were born
Yes the shepherd he had his place and in good grace
Lambs were sheared again to keep him warm when winter came

Instrumental break

Now the shepherd he took to the roads
In high bonnet and crook and dogs that walk in pairs
Making for the country towns to try his luck at the hiring fair.
Yes the shepherd he had his trade and with a good will
Spring lambs and ewes and rams the downs did fill

Now my grandfather saw the change
From high summer to winter's frost upon the plough
From the faded autumn leaves to small birds that sang so sweet upon the bough
Yes the tradesman had his place and in good grace
His sons would walk the land, boy to man, as seasons change

Now my grandfather left the plough
He walked a hard mile to reach the town and catch the train
To the fields he waved goodbye where he sweated hard all in the sun and rain
Yes the ploughman's had his day and he's gone away
Trying his hand as best he can some other way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew The Plough
From: melodeonboy
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 06:26 PM

Ralphie and Diane: Many thanks to you both.

I'm so excited by the song, not only because it's a beautiful song in its own right, but also because there is an emotional connection: I was brought up by my grandfather, who was a farm worker, born when Victoria was still on the throne, and he really did know the plough!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew The Plough
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 04:20 AM

Hey, my grandfather too.
He fought on the Somme and came back and lived till the late 1950s.
Now he's buried at that church you see from the A19, lit by candles, as fetured from time to time in the Guardian.
He played accordian, lived in a 17th century cottage with a water pump and earth closet way down the back garden, an aquarium, a talking jackdaw, a blacksmith's forge and a ghost.
He had the first Massey Ferguson tractor in the village and three fields but ended his days in the nearby market town, not all that happy to have left his beehives and tobacco plants behind.
His first name was Goldsborough. Isn't that brilliant?

PS Can anyone fill the gaps in the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew The Plough
From: melodeonboy
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 03:39 PM

Diane: I think the words in the second line are "He cut the long furrow before the swallow....".

As for line 9, I think it finishes with "for fallow and plain".

As for "brinded", the Wiktionary tells me that it means "having a streaky or patchy pattern".

It now makes almost complete sense; apart from line 9!

TTFN

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew The Plough
From: koeeoaddi
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 09:35 AM

I was amazed by this beautiful song. Is it trad. or whence? I thought I'd be able to hear it again, and think it's incredible that he didn't record or rate it. Maybe he's trying to keep it "extra special". I'd love to learn it to play at our session (thursdays, "Ma Byrne's", New Ross, county Wexford), but I guess I'll have to wait til it comes round again on the Radio. Please let me know if you hear it!
Pete.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew The Plough
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 09:57 AM

According to Raymond Greenoaken who is usually right about most things, it is a self-composed piece. I've certainly never heard anyone else attempt it. You'd have to be very good at triplets.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 25 Oct 07 - 08:12 AM

For completeness, I should add that I am grateful for information in another thread from Ian that this song was in fact written by Phil Colclough while they were both regulars at the Red Lion Folk Club in Stoke-on-Trent and is, in fact, based on the life of Phil's own grandfather.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 25 Oct 07 - 10:16 AM

I would guess that most of our grandfathers, great grandfathers etc. "knew the plough" - many of us seem to have chosen to forget it, that's all ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: Stu
Date: 02 Feb 14 - 01:55 PM

This song is basically the life story of my great-great grandfather who started life as an agricultural labourer and eventually became a plate-layer on the railway. I'm not sure what a plate-layer is come to think of it. I'll look it up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 25 May 15 - 12:52 AM

Here's a lovely version from Australia.
https://kateburkeandruthhazleton.bandcamp.com/track/my-grandfather-knew-the-plough

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: GUEST,Barry Swallow
Date: 19 Feb 18 - 09:41 PM

Reference poem
Pied Beauty BY GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS 1844 1889

Glory be to God for dappled things –
   For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
      For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
   Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough;
      And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
   Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
      With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
                               Praise him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 18 - 10:55 PM

So - where did Nic Jones get his version from?? Does it have a Roud Number, etc... I have had a quick look and can't find a source song??

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 12:19 AM

Here's the recording by Kate Burke and Ruth Hazleton: My Grandfather Knew the Plough

And by Nic Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o5Vrzq1Fhg

Reinhard has limited information on the song at Mainly Norfolk: https://mainlynorfolk.info/nic.jones/records/bbc.html

Like Tim Radford, I'm wondering if the name of the songwriter is known, or if it's traditional. Up above, Borchester Echo says it was written by Nic Jones. Can we verify that? Googling gives me the idea that the song may be based on an essay titled "My Grandfather" by W.B. Yeats, but I don't have definitive info on that.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 23 Feb 18 - 07:59 AM

On 25 Oct 07, Borchester Echo said it was a Phil Colclough song...
See also
This thread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Grandfather Knew the Plough (Nic Jones
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Feb 18 - 11:12 AM

Phil & June Colclough
Check the thread on "Origins: Song for Ireland", and search for the song title.