Lyr ADD: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)

Subject: Lyr Req: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 08:38 PM

Not the song about two farmers, a cow and a lawyer. This one was sung by Mike Waterson (click), about a farmer named Swan who raised ducks and a farmer named Duck who raised geese. I've been able to understand most of what he sings except for a few lines:

1. Two farmers lived by the mill,
[?????] still...

7. Now the schoolmaster shook his head
turning a little red,
then [round?] once more and said...

Can anyone tell me what the missing bits are? Also, anything about the provenance of this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 09:37 PM

Hello, AC. I admire you for trying to understand this. Sounds like some sort of English to me. East Yorkshire, I think.

1) Stanza 7 is correct as is, imo.

2} Stanza 1: I would engage the services of John (Giok) MacKenzie. He's on Mudcat as a member. Nice guy. Comes from Scotland, but some things can't be helped.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 09:57 PM

If they' re not dead they live there still


Turned round once more he said
Whose geeede are these

Is what it sounds like to me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:08 PM

And there he is, the man himself. How are you, Leadfingers?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:17 PM

Much obliged. Then here's what I have as a transcription:


Two Farmers
   as sung by Mike Waterson

1. Two farmers lived by the mill, if they're not dead, they live there still.
Each had a special skill breeding fat birds.

2. Now the first farmer's name was Swan, breeding ducks brought him fame,
breeding ducks brought in gain, Swan he bred ducks.

3. And the next farmer's name was Duck, breeding geese brought him luck
and great cartloads of goose muck, Duck he bred geese.

4. Now the young lad sat by the pond, willow wand in his hand,
he being the keeper of both geese and ducks.

5. And the schoolmaster he rode by, new to the district he,
casting envious eyes upon both geese and ducks.

6. "Whose ducks are these?" he said, pointing down with his hand.
The lad smiled and turned and said, "Them ducks is Swan's."

7. Now schoolmaster shook his head, turning a little red,
turned round once more and said, "Whose geese is these?"

8. The lad smiled, he turned his head: "You'll not find better bred:
them geese is all corn-fed and them geese is Duck's."

9. "Young lad you are a fool sitting here by the pool;
better to be at school learning about ducks."

10. The lad turned, he smiled and said, "Them that can, do," he said,
"Them that can't, teach instead. I know my ducks!

11. "And them ducks is Swan's," he said, "you'll not find better bred.
As for the geese," he said, "them geese is Duck's."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:21 PM

That looks about right to me A C - Good song I think .

And I dont think Mc Kenzie would argue either !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 10:41 PM

Giok is Scottish. He'll argue about anything.

Good guy though, and a good musician/singer also.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 08:42 AM

Almost correct:

V2L2: breeding ducks brought him gain, Swan he bred ducks.

V6L1: "Whose ducks are these?" he said, pointing down with his head.

V7L1: Now the schoolmaster shook his head, turning a little red,


And as Leadfingers said Giok is Scottish, Mike Waterson Yorkshire; there's a world of difference (see Scottish plans for independence! Wouldn't be the first time independence for Yorkshire has been suggested either!).

Mick (born in Yorkshire, though not quite Mike Waterson's bit)

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Two Farmers (lived by the mill)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 22 - 01:41 AM

Here's a performance by Mike Waterson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=689_6MoWeIU

And here's a recitation by Monologue John Bartley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJcTrnKCUPU

Both are wonderful!!

-Joe-