Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy? / ...Ploughboys

Subject: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: GUEST,aging folky
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 06:39 PM

I have just heard Pete Coe singing "Penny for the Plowboy" at the recent Chester Folk festival.

Does anyone have the Lyrics and know who wrote the song.

I think it has some lovely words in it, and Pete's rendition is particularly good.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 06:57 PM

IF you want to find lyrics , try entering something in the 'search' box ! There have been several requests for this Colin Cater song over the last twelve years or so .
And yes - Pete Coe does a damn fine job .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 07:09 PM

Only one thread: Lyr Req: A Penny for the Ploughboys (Colin Cater)

You can here Pete Coe do it on youtube: Pete Coe: Penny for the Ploughboys

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 07:24 PM

You can get the lyrics on one of the lovely cards that Karen Cater designs too!


http://www.hedinghamfair.co.uk/index.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: GUEST,alex s no cookie
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 07:31 PM

Andy Clayton does a good job of this.
Check out Moorcock Acoustic on Facebook for his folk nights.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 04:11 AM

You can buy Colin Cater's book, which includes this and other songs by him together with a CD, from Hedingham Fair:

Hedingham Fair Books

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: Speedwell
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 04:28 AM

You could even go to the folk club Colin runs with Karen and others and maybe hear it live!
http://www.dutonhillfolkclub.org.uk/

Subject: Lyr Add: PENNY FOR THE PLOUGHBOYS (Colin Cater)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 04:09 PM

Fron Mick's link, af:

Subject: Lyr Add: PENNY FOR THE PLOUGHBOYS (Colin Cater)
From: My guru always said
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 01:10 PM

The words to this were passed to me from Colin Cater (who wrote it) after a search on a thread which has now disappeared.

PENNY FOR THE PLOUGHBOYS
(Colin Cater)

At the end of the year all the fields were brown in the days when I was young
With corn in the barns, frost in the ground and never a green shoot sprung
Then the ploughmen came with hobnailed boots and the Molly dance rich and slow
And with magical plays and songs of the land they bade the corn to grow

CHORUS
Only once a year, Penny for the Ploughboys
To keep us in good cheer and multiply the grain
Only once a year, Penny for the Ploughboys
Speed the plough until the year turns round again

Then they ploughed and sowed and harrowed him in and the rain from heaven did fall
The wind did blow and the sun did shine and he soon grew amazing tall
When the corn was ripened the harvesters came and the barns and the breweries rang
And when all was safely gathered in they raised their voice and sang.

But now the seasons are all changed round, a slave to the great machines.
The fields are ploughed in the high summer time, by the turn of the year they're green
Gone are the trades, the horses, the families that followed the seasons along
And the old pubs close because they can't resound to the fiddle or a country song

But there's strength in the plays, the dances and songs that have lasted a thousand years
There's strength in barley malt and hops brewed into a country beer
It puts a spring in the step of an old straw bear, makes the dancer leap for the skies
And when the Molly gangs come to speed the plough they'll raise their glass and cry.

© Colin Cater, 2000

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 04:12 PM

Might be a good idea to change the thread title to

Penny for the Ploughboys

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy
From: GUEST,aging folky
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 06:29 PM

Thanks everyone for you postings.
I have been to all your suggestion and found what I required.

You tube Pete Coe    Great.

And the lyrics from guest.

I also found that it had been posted before in about 2002

It's great that people like Colin Cater and Pete Coe keep writing and singing songs of bygone customs and trades. Long may it continue.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Penny for the plowboy? / ...Ploughboys
From: GUEST,Wheatman
Date: 26 Jun 13 - 03:55 AM

It is the only song I know of which mentions Straw Bears. Brian