Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms / Farmer's Toast

Subject: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 05:03 AM

Looking for the words to a song I think is called ' The Farmers Arms '

it starts,
Come all jolly fellows, that delights in being mellow,
Attend unto me and sit easy.
For a pint when it's quiet no man can deny it,
Dull thinking can drive a man crazy.
          .............
chorus
I have lawns I have bowers,I have fruit I have flowers,
And the lark is my morning alarmer



Thats all I can remember.

thanks in advance, Dave H

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 11:05 AM

Lyrics have been posted in another thread here under the title THE FARMER'S TOAST.

Another copy here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 02:25 PM

Thanks Jim.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: Tradsinger
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 05:01 AM

Bear in mind that the tune that most people know to this song is not traditional but written by one Eric Winter.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 06:15 AM

Didn't know that, thanks.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: r.padgett
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 02:38 AM

More information on Jon Boden's Folk song a day website ~ I posted on there regarding Eric Winter and the fact that Eric had rewritten the song from the original cherry picking the best verses and and rearranged the words and tune (I think his tune eventually) from traditional source initially

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: GUEST,Roger
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 04:48 PM

This song is on the Muckram Wakes album, and is credited to 'Winter'.
In the sleeve notes Mr Winter says that a full version of the song can be found in Colm O'Lochlainns Irish Street Ballads.
Mr Winter composed the tune that is commonly used today.
Roger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: r.padgett
Date: 16 Oct 18 - 03:35 AM

Indeed so

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: Brian Peters
Date: 16 Oct 18 - 07:44 PM

Eric Winter was well-known as a journalist, and edited 'Sing' magazine, before my time. I did get to know him in his later years, when he and Audrey were still living in his birthplace of Mossley, just up the road from me. During one visit he let slip that he'd written the tune to 'The Farmer's Toast', and was delighted that I was duly impressed!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 17 Oct 18 - 05:46 PM

'The Farmer's Toast' Roud 1603, with tune either in Marrow Bones p38 or on the EFDSS website as sung by Frank Gambling in Portsmouth Workhouse in 1907. The words were often printed on to ceramic pottery vases and bowls in the early 19th century. Would be interesting to compare this tune with Mr Winters'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: RTim
Date: 17 Oct 18 - 06:31 PM

I was thinking exactly the same as you Steve - I knew it was in Marrowbones and collected by Gardiner, but you beat me in looking it up - must get my wife to play the Gambling tune...which I have to say, I thought was the original....??

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: RTim
Date: 17 Oct 18 - 06:35 PM

Of course it is - "Gamblin" - and was he related to the Music Writer that Gardiner employed - or indeed the same man??

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms ?
From: RTim
Date: 17 Oct 18 - 10:47 PM

Yep - The tune in Marrowbones from Frank Gamblin is nothing like the tune known by many - So I can believe that Eric Winter wrote the best known version.

Tim Radford
Ps - and IMHO - the Winter tune is the best!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms / Farmer's Toast
From: r.padgett
Date: 18 Oct 18 - 03:47 AM

Eric Winter says ~ “the original is poeticised song about the farmers’ life ~ i have chosen half verses here and there and put them together to make a shorter and more singable version ~ i wrote the tune as that given in Irish Street Ballads (Colm O Lachlainn, Three Candles Press, Dublin 1939)didn’t seem to have enough spirit ~ First half of verse three is found on old Englsh drinking cups ~ use second half of verse one as a chorus

Traditional words adapted by and arranged by and tune by Eric Winter (c) Sing Publications 1964

Above from Songs squibs and a couple of poems by Eric Winter (THEY NEVER CLAPPED ME LIKE THAT) December 1992 published book

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms / Farmer's Toast
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 18 Oct 18 - 01:43 PM

Always thought it was Charles Gamblin who helped with recording tunes. I doubt if they were related if Frank was in the workhouse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Farmers Arms / Farmer's Toast
From: RTim
Date: 18 Oct 18 - 04:02 PM

It seems (from my research) that Gamblin was a very common name in Hampshire around the time Gardiner was collecting...

Tim Radford