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Subject: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,skippy Date: 23 Nov 02 - 03:35 PM Has anyone out there any gen re the origin of The Farmer's Boy? All I know to date is that it was collected in 1907 by Josephine Norville and published in Ballads and Songs. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: greg stephens Date: 23 Nov 02 - 04:17 PM Now I cant give you chapter and verse on this but I used to live on a boat and spend time in Little Leigh, Cheshire, and the story is that a guy wrote the song about an incident at a farm there. It's a good deal older than 1907 I would have thought. Hope someone can provide the facts on this. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: Joe Offer Date: 23 Nov 02 - 04:51 PM I think the "Ballads and Songs" is the book edited by Belden of songs collected by the Missouri Folklore Society. I can't remember the exact title of the book, and I curse everyboy who has it because I haven't. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: masato sakurai Date: 23 Nov 02 - 04:54 PM From The Traditional Ballad Index: Farmer's Boy, The [Laws Q30]DESCRIPTION: A lost boy comes seeking a home, or at least shelter for a night, saying that he can perform all farm tasks. The farmer's wife and daughter convince the farmer to take him in. He serves so well that he marries the farmer's daughter and becomes his heirAUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1845 (Journal from the Elizabeth); a possibly-related broadside is said to date from before 1689 KEYWORDS: farming work marriage FOUND IN: US(MA,MW,NE,Ro,SE,So) Canada(Mar,Ont) Britain(Scotland(Aber),England(North,South)) REFERENCES (14 citations): Laws Q30, "The Farmer's Boy" Belden, pp. 272-273, "A Farmer's Boy" (1 text) Randolph 118, "The Farmer's Boy" (1 text, 1 tune) Randolph/Cohen, pp. 111-113, "The Farmer's Boy" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 118) BrownIII 88, "The Farmer's Boy" (1 text plus mention of 3 more) Warner 37, "The Farmer's Boy" (1 text, 1 tune) Flanders/Brown, pp. 118-119, "The Farmer's Boy" (1 text) GreigDuncan5 960, "The Farmer's Boy" (6 texts, 4 tunes) Kennedy 247, "The Farmer's Boy" (1 text, 1 tune) LPound-ABS, 28, pp. 69-71, "The Farmer's Boy" (1 text) Creighton/Senior, p. 158, "The Farmer's Boy" (1 text, 1 tune) Huntington-Whalemen, pp. 216-218, "A Farmer's Boy" (1 text, 1 tune) cf. Gardner/Chickering, p. 479, "The Farmer's Boy" (source notes only) DT 538, FARMRBOY FARMRBO2 Roud #408 RECORDINGS: O. J. Abbott, "The Farmer's Boy" (on Abbott1) Warde Ford, "The Farmer's Boy" (AFS 4215 A2, 1939; in AMMEM/Cowell) Tony Wales, "To Be a Farmer's Boy" (on TWales1) BROADSIDES: Bodleian, Harding B 11(1152), "Farmer's Boy" ("The sun went down beyond yon hills"), J. Catnach (London), 1813-1838; also Harding B 26(186), Firth b.26(333), Harding B 11(3663), Firth c.26(199), Harding B 36(27), Harding B 18(164), 2806 c.8(292), Firth b.26(370), Harding B 11(551), "[The] Farmer's Boy" LOCSheet, sm1847 420620, "The Farmer's Boy," Oliver Ditson (Boston), 1847 (tune) LOCSinging, as200930, "The Farmer's Boy," H. De Marsan (New York), 1861-1864; also as103730, as103740, "The Farmer's Boy" Murray, Mu23-y1:045, "The Farmer's Boy," James Lindsay (Glasgow), 19C CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "The Soldier's Poor Little Boy" [Laws Q28] (plot) cf. "The Fisherman's Boy" [Laws Q29] (plot) cf. "The Fisherman's Girl" (plot) cf. "The Poor Smuggler's Boy" (plot) cf. "The Hobo from the T & P Line" (plot) cf. "Peter Amberley" [Laws C27] (tune) NOTES: Broadside LOCSinging as200930: H. De Marsan dating per Studying Nineteenth-Century Popular Song by Paul Charosh in American Music, Winter 1997, Vol 15.4, Table 1, available at FindArticles site. - BS Last updated in version 2.5 File: LQ30 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2011 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 23 Nov 02 - 05:06 PM To be more specific, the book would be H. M. Belden's Ballads and Songs Collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society (1955). The song is number 408 in the Roud Folk Song index, and Laws number Q30. It's of English origin, of unknown authorship, and very common; I sometimes think that the few collectors who don't report finding it just thought "Oh, no, not that one again", and didn't bother mentioning it! It has also circulated quite widely in songbooks since the 1850s (and on broadsides for a bit longer), which would in part account for the fact that it varies so little. The entry at The Traditional Ballad Index takes it back as far as 1845, when it appeared in the log of the ship Elizabeth out of New Bedford (Gale Huntington, Songs the Whaleman Sang, 1964). Farmer's Boy, The [Laws Q30] You can see a text from Robert Bell's Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England (a revision of James Dixon's 1846 book of the same name) at: The Farmer's Boy The editors considered it likely to be a product of the earlier part of the 18th century, but opinion nowadays would tend to place it later; perhaps in the early 19th. Broadside catalogues take the date back to around 1832, beyond which point there don't seem to be any references to it; it may not be much older than that.There are a number of broadside examples (probably all 19th century) at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads; these are to be found under the titles of The Farmer's Boy and (perhaps its earlier name) The Lucky Farmer's Boy. There are also some later Irish editions, titled The Farmer's Lucky Boy; and a slight re-write, The Lucky Factory Boy. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Skippy Date: 23 Nov 02 - 05:20 PM Thank you all so much for such an indepth response. Regards Skippy. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: greg stephens Date: 23 Nov 02 - 05:26 PM Well there doesnt seem to be anything about Little Leigh in that lot, but I'm sure something will surface somewhere. Used to be a great pub there, the Holly Bush, part of a farmhouse. the pub's still there, but it's been "improved". |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: masato sakurai Date: 23 Nov 02 - 06:58 PM THE FARMER'S BOY in the DT is from H.M. Belden, ed., Ballads and Songs Collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society (University of Missouri Press, 1940, 1955, pp. 272-273; text only), with this note: "'A Farmer's Boy.' Contributed by Miss Josephine Norville of Chillicothe, Livingston County, in 1907, with the note that she got it 'last summer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was sung at an "Old Folks' Concert" by Mr. Fred Perkins, who says that his father and grandfather both used to sing it." |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Q Date: 23 Nov 02 - 11:00 PM Sung in the Wolf Coll: Farmer's Boy |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE FARMER'S BOY From: Richie Date: 23 Nov 02 - 11:21 PM Lyr Add: THE FARMER'S BOY From American Song Sheets, Series 2, Volume 1; No date given The sun had gone down behind you hill, And o'er yon dreary moor, When, weary and lame, a boy there came Up to a Farmer's door,-- Saying, can you tell me, if any there be, Can give to me employ, For to plough, for to mow, for to reap, for to sow, For to be a farmer's boy. My father is dead, my mother is left With her five children small, And what is worse for mother still. I'm the eldest of them all, Though small I am, I fear no work, If you will give me employ. If you cannot me employ, one favor yet I ask That is to shelter me this one night From the cold winter's blast, At the break of day, I will trudge away, Elsewhere to seek employ. The farmer says, we will try the lad. No further let him seek, Oh, yes, dear father, his daughter cried, While the tears rolled down her cheek, For him that can labor it is hard to want, Or elsewhere to seek employ. At length of years this boy grew up, This good old farmer died, He left the boy the farm he had, And his daughter for his bride. The boy that was, is a farmer now, And he oft times thinks with joy, On the happy, happy day, he came that way, For to be a Farmer's Boy. Notes: Early broadside from 1800's (American Memory) An additional note suggests: Obtain by all means the companion to this Song, the "Song of the Farmer." -Richie |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 23 Nov 02 - 11:30 PM On my side of the world, when we say "1800s", we mean "the first decade of the 19th century"; do you mean that, or just "some time during the whole of the 19th century"? It's quite an important distinction! The text you quote is the usual one, give or take a few details; it varies very little wherever it's found. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: Richie Date: 24 Nov 02 - 12:09 AM Malcolm- My Post was from: Nineteenth Century Song Sheets; The 1800's are 1800-1899 or the Nineteenth Century (some people actually don't know the Nineteenth Century is from 1800-1899). Therefore the 1800's might be clearer. In the US, corruption of the language is the norm. -Richie |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SONG OF THE FARMER From: Richie Date: 24 Nov 02 - 12:14 AM Lyr. Add: SONG Of The FARMER From: Nineteenth American Song Sheets I have cattle that feed in the valley, And herds that graze on the hill, And I pride in the fruits of my labor, For I'm lord of the land that I till, I have plow'd the rough hill and the meadow, Till feeble with age and with toil, And I know before long that another Shall reap the new fruits of the soil For the son that hath toil'd for me ever, And faithfully stood by my side, Hath a hand that shall gather the harvest, When his feeble old father hath died. And the daughter so kind to her mother, Shall share with him all I possess, For I feel that they love me as father, And welcome my tender caress. There's my faithful, my trusting companion, My kind-hearted, dear loving wife, I have toil'd for her comfort with pleasure, For such was the pride of my life. And still in my manhood I love her, For her kind and affectionate care, And all that the earth can afford me, With her I most willingly share. Notes: Companion song to THE FARMER'S BOY -Richie |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Q Date: 24 Nov 02 - 01:41 AM The Marsan broadside at American Memory is roughly 1830-1860, if comparisons of the border with Marsan broadsides at the Bodelian on which they have given a range of dates are worth anything. The Bodleian has the same broadside under Harding B 18(164) and noted as ca. 1860. Marsan broadsides seemingly sold widely. It could have been taken from the 1847 sheet music at American Memory (very similar verses) by Edward L. White (item 20 of 500) and published in Boston or more likely, some other version such as the earlier one (below) at the Bodleian printed by Catnach. At the Bodleian Library, Harding B 36(8) printed by Catnach is given a date range of 1813-1838, but no images are given of this sheet with 18 songs. Another copy of the same, Harding B 40(23a), also shows no images. A third Catnach copy with just two songs, Harding B 11 (1152) has pretty much the same material as the Marsan copy, and is also dated between 1813 and 1838. Malcolm mentions an 1832 average date for broadsides which would be in the same range. The Catnach printing is very close to the Marsan broadside at the American Memory. website and quoted by Richie, above, and needn't be repeated here. Broadsides under the "Lucky Farmer's Boy" are very similar. Harding B 11(2262) and Johnson Ballads 905, dated between 1819 and 1844, were published by Pitts in London (again, similar age). There are variations in verses two and four (other differences very minor: 2. My father is dead, and my mother is left With five children great and small, And what is worse for my mother still, I'm the biggest of them all: But, though little, I work hard as a Turk If I could get employ, For to plow and sow, reap and mow, And be a farmer's boy. 4. The farmer's wife, cry'd try the lad, Let him no further seek, Yes do, dear father, the daughter cry'd, While tears etc. 5. When the farmer's boy he grew (to a) man (blank space before man) Malcolm, never heard your interpretation of 1800s over here. This could be confusing, as you say! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: IanC Date: 24 Nov 02 - 01:57 PM Q 1800s like 1810s 1820s etc. is the decade here. If you wanted to refer to 1800-1899 you would always say the 19th Century. :-) |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: greg stephens Date: 24 Nov 02 - 02:59 PM Well I'm the same side of the Atlantic as malcolm D but I say 1800's for 19th century. and education being what it is nowadays, I dont think many people realise any more what 19th century means, as it recedes into the past. the further ahead or behind youre looking at, the more people are vague.How many people would instantly figure that 24th century means 2300s.Or that 9th century means 800s. I think this is a linguistic change which will soon become universal. I dont believe I'm familiar with malolm's usage. If someone says to me "in the 500's" I would always assume they meant between 5 and 600. But I'm still hoping somebody will find something about Little Leigh for this song, I'm sure I havent made it up. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Q Date: 24 Nov 02 - 03:00 PM 1810s (or 1810's), 1820s, is perfectly clear, but 1800s covers the entire century for Americans and Canadians. People not used to thinking in time terms often click (in their minds) on 1800-1899 if you say 18th century, then re-think ("Oh, how silly of me!"). This is one that was missed in the language threads. Department of strange associations. This song reminded me of the country tear-jerker- "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille. Six hungry children and a crop in the field." |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE PHARMACIST (Sid Kipper - parody) From: Mr Happy Date: 27 Nov 02 - 06:17 AM here's another variation: The Pharmacist (Farmers Boy) Sid Kipper The sun had set behind the hill across the dreary moor When sickly and lame a boy there came up to a doctor's door Can you tell me where e'er there be one who can me assist To cure my ills, prescribe me pills and be a pharmacist And be a pharmacist My fathers dead, my mother too and I'm not too well myself So I'd be glad if you could spare some medicine from your shelf If I can stop inside your shop out of the fog and mist I'll work all day to earn my pay and be a pharmacist And be a pharmacist The doctor's wife said cure the lad, he seems so pale and sick Yes father do, cried his daughter dear, these pills should do the trick Don't make him go out in the snow, I really must insist But let him stay and earn his pay and be a pharmacist And be a pharmacist The man that was a boy is now assistant in the shop But as pharmacist's assistant he was not prepared to stop And often he'd look at the poisons book and find there in the list That there's many a potion to aid his notion to be a pharmacist To be a pharmacist So it was not surprising when the poor old couple died Which left the boy the business and the daughter for his bride A knowing gleam in his eye was seen as bride and bridegroom kissed Blast me! He say, now that's the way to be a pharmacist And be a pharmacist cheers, mr h |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE FARMER'S BOY From: masato sakurai Date: 27 Nov 02 - 07:23 AM George Townshend's version with notes (from HERE). The Farmer's Boy (Roud 408 / Laws Q30) The sun was set behind yon hill, across yon dreary moor, When weary and lame, a boy there came up to a farmer's door, "Can you tell me if any th' be, that will give me employ, For to plough, to sow, to reap and mow, and t' be a farmer's boy, And t' be a farmer's boy." "If you will [will not] me employ, one favour I would ask, Will you shelter me 'til break of day from this cold winter's blast. And at break of day, I'll trudge away, elsewhere to seek employ ... " The farmer's wife cries "Try the lad, let him no further seek" "Oh yes, dear Father" the daughter cries, as the tears roll down his [her] cheek, "For for those that will work, it's hard to want, and to wander for employ ... Don't turn him away, but let him stay, and be a farmer's ... " In length of time, he grew a man - this good old farmer died, He left the lad the farm he had and his daughter for his bride, Now the lad that was - the farmer he is, and he ofttimes smiles with joy, On that lucky, lucky day that he came that way, for to be a farmer's ... One of the most popular of collected songs in England (Roud has 153 instances), probably dating from about the 1820s … and it is one of the songs sung by the Boggins prior to the Hood game on January 6th at Haxey, Lincs. It was very common on 19th century broadsides and songsters, and also collected quite regularly in USA and Canada, but not much, apparently, in Scotland. It was once fairly popular in Irish songbooks and ballad sheets, but is seldom sung there now. The known texts vary very little - maybe due to a popular 78 from the 1930s. The tune is apparently Ye Sons of Albion - which dates from the Napoleonic Wars and the earliest record of the song so far is The Lucky Farmer's Boy in the 1832 Catnach catalogue. There 17 sound recordings, only two of which are from Sussex - and the other one is from F H 'Gabriel' Figg, of George's birthplace in East Chiltington. In mid-Cheshire there is a tradition that the original 'farmer's boy' of the song was the Reverend Thomas Smith, to whose memory there is a tablet in the Baptist Chapel at Little Leigh, near Northwich. He is said to have come to the village 'weary and lame', looking for work. He called at Heath House Farm, was given a job, and in time married the farmer's daughter - just as the song relates. Later he became a Baptist minister and he is buried in the graveyard of the Chapel. ~Masato |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: masato sakurai Date: 27 Nov 02 - 07:41 AM From folk trax: FARMER'S BOY, THE - "The sun went down behind yon hill" - LAWS #Q- 30 ABBB 1957 pp287-8 - ROUD#408 - BSs "The Lucky FB" BS by Thomas FORD of Chesterfield 1830s (Palmer Reprint 2001) p7 also "Lucky Factory Boy" (parody) incl BG 2:#12/ 2:#48/ 2:#104/ 2:#177/ 4:#273/ 5:#78/ 8:#179/ 9:#52 - BELL SP 1857 p118 - Parody: "The Dairy Maid" (sung by Jimmy McBeath) - GREIG-DUNCAN 5 1995 #960 pp72-6 (6var 5v/m none like Togo Crawford's tune - one like Bob Scarce's "Three Butchers") - LONG DIOW 1886 pp148-9 (w/o) - KIDSON TT 1891 pp63-6 Mrs Holt/ Mr Holgate, Leeds (1v/m)/ Charles Lolley 1v/m/ p 174 Arles Wardill, Goathland, Yorksh 1v/m (notes on song) - BROADWOOD ECS 1893 pp120-1 nn, Enborne, Berksh & pp134-5 Samuel Willett, Cuckfield, Sussex - BARRETT EFS 1891 standard tune to words of "Ye Sons of Albion" - BARING GOULD Ms #180 (5v) from Robert Hard, Devon - GRAINGER #244 Edgar Hydon, Barrow Haven, Lincolnsh 1906/ #317 Wm Newman, Stanton, Gloucestersh 1907/ #355 Mr Tandy, Winchcombe, Gloucestersh 1908 - WILLIAMS #565 (w/o) - KIDSON GEF 1926 pp100-1 nn, Driffield, Yorksh - BALDRY RSC 1939 pp71-2 Norfolk (w/o) - PENGUIN 1959 p118-9 - O SHAUGHNESSEY LLL pp6-7 J R K Turner, Boston, Lincolnsh - KENNEDY FSBI 1975 p555 Togo & Burns Crawford 1954 - ANDREWS SOD 1979 Michael Blann Ms Upper Beeding Sussex - PALMER EBECS 1980 #18 pp42-3 Philip Donnellan: Arthur Lane, Corvedale, Shropsh 1974 - GARDHAM ERS 1982 p16 Peter Wickings, Hedon, Yorksh 1971 - Lore & Language 3:9 1983 pp46- 64 J Blunt: Sam Newman, Adderbury Oxfordsh 1909 (w/o)/ Discussion: "The Farmworker and The Farmer's Boy" --- FLANDERS- BROWN Vermont 1932 p118 (w/o) - BELDEN Mo 1940 p272 - RANDOLPH OFS 1946 1 pp425-7 Mrs Lilian Short Mo 1940 - CREIGHTON TSNS 1950 p158 - HUBBARD BSFU 1961 pp1978-9 Mrs Susie Barlow 1948/ James Jepson, Utah 1947 (w/o) - HUNTINGTON SWS 1964 pp216-8 Ship's Log 1847 (w/o) - JAFL vol 51 p38 & 52 p37 - WARNER TAFS 1984 pp117-9 Steve Wadsworth, NY 1969 -- John STRACHAN #158 rec on Dictaphone cylinder Fyvie, Aberdeensh by James M Carpenter 1929-35 - Stone Quarrymen, Portland, Dorset 1937: RPL 1707/ 1939: RPL 2266 - John ROWLANDS (with ch) rec by Alan Lomax, Treorchy, S Wales 1951: FOLKTRAX 055 (sung in Welsh) - Fred JORDAN rec by PK, Diddlebury, Shropshire 1952: FOLKTRAX 130/ rec by Mike Yates & Bill Leader, Shropsh: TOPIC 12-T-150 1966 - Barrow-on-Humber Plough Jags with Luke STANLEY (melodeon) rec by Peter Kennedy 23/3/53: RPL 19028/ FOLKTRAX 105 - Togo & Burns CRAWFORD rec by PK, Mossdale, Kirkcudbrightsh 20/7/54 (not usual tune): RPL 21488/ FOLKTRAX 023/ 262 - Chagford MERRYMAKERS Band, rec by PK, Devon 1954 (instrum only): FOLKTRAX 086 - Tony WALES (with gtr) 7"RTR-0089 dub from FOLKWAYS FG-3515 1957 - Howard PRITCHETT rec by Peter Duddridge, Banbury, Oxon 1962: SAYDISC SDL-300 1979 cassette with FARMER GILES - F H "Gabriel" FIGG rec by Joy Hyman, West Chiltington, Sussex 4/7/65: RPL LP 29821 - John REILLY (tinker) rec by Tom Munnelly (not usual tune) - Loxton PICKARD (tune on accordion) rec by PK, Boscastle, Cornwall, 1975: FOLKTRAX 096- Cyril POACHER rec by Ginette Dunn, Grove Farm, Blaxhall, Suffolk 1974: MT-CD-303 - Billy BENNINGTON (h-dulc instr) rec by Jim COUZA Barford, Norfolk 20/7/82 CASS-0871 - YETTIES RPL Radio 2 1/11/89: CASS 90-0569/ Radio 2 8/8/90 "War" CASS-60-1033 - Margaret O REILLY (unacc) Co Cavan rec RTE "Long Note" prog June 1988 CASS-0894 |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: Dave Bryant Date: 28 Nov 02 - 05:53 AM I seem to remember that in "English County Songs", Lucy Broadwood writes that she found the song in nearly every county, so it definitely got around. I'll have to look up which county she eventually listed it under. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: greg stephens Date: 28 Nov 02 - 10:41 AM I knew someone would come up with the Little Leigh information eventually, and of course who else would it be but MASATO.The man!! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: Emma B Date: 28 Nov 02 - 02:14 PM Just got back from Madrid so first evening on Mudcat for several days. A few years ago I was told by the woman who had purchased the old vicarge in the Little Leigh area that the song had originally been written by the curate in residence there, but she was vague about the date and suggested 'early Victorian' She had never actually heard of the song but had been given the information as an "interesting fact" by the vendors. I've been trying to verify the story ever since with no success! Thanks for bringing it up Greg. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: greg stephens Date: 28 Nov 02 - 02:18 PM Now all we need is Malcolm Douglas to tell us the story is rubbish and the thread will be complete! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST Date: 16 Jan 07 - 05:17 AM You may also want to check up on the Royal Hampshire Regiment (WInchester, UK - now the Princess of Walres Regiment). The Farmers Boy has been their unofficial marching song since long before the Great War. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Gadaffi Date: 16 Jan 07 - 07:22 AM I refer you to that excellent article 'And They Calls I Buttercup Joe' published in the 2006 Folk Music Journal which states: "The provenance of 'Farmer's Boy' is generally unknown, but appears to be the work of Suffolk poet Robert Bloomfield (1766-1823), although Rod Stradling suggests that the tune is 'Ye Sons of Albion' which dates back to the Napoleonic Wars ..." This information was found in "Sussex Songs, No. 9 – The Farmer's Boy', Sussex County Magazine, 4 (1930), 988–89. The same article gives a version of the song by Albert Handley of Hastings, who 'has also written some additional verses'." |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts Date: 16 Jan 07 - 11:05 AM I've no weiosh to confuse your enquiries about this song, but it should be noted that for many years BBC Radio played an orchestral version of the tune as the morning introducyion to the West of England Home Service! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Terry McDonald Date: 16 Jan 07 - 11:25 AM According to a friend who managed (whilst doing his national service) to serve in both the Dorset and the Hampshire regiments, 'To be a Farmer's Boy' was the official regimental march of the Devonshire Regiment. My friend was in Germany with the Dorsets when they were merged with the Devons. Because he had only a few months left to serve, and the new Devon and Dorsets were being sent to Cyprus, he was transferred to the Hampshires and says that he was never aware of To be a Farmer's Boy being played or marched to! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Terry McDonald Date: 16 Jan 07 - 11:45 AM Aaaargh! Just had a phone call from the aforementioned friend and he tells me that, according to a pretty authoritative website, the Hampshires had three official marches........two were Scottish and one was Irish, so they adopted (unofficially) the Farmer's Boy as a 'lead in' to these 'foreign' ones! With the Devons, though, it was an official march tune. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: IanC Date: 16 Jan 07 - 11:52 AM I'm sorry to deny people a provenance but, though Robert Bloomfield did write a poem called "The Farmer's Boy", it was nothing whatsoever to do with the song. Here it is for you to look at in full. :-) Ian |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: greg stephens Date: 16 Jan 07 - 12:37 PM So, as far as I can see, the bloke in Little Leigh iks still favourite for the authorship. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST Date: 16 Jan 07 - 03:53 PM Did anyone ever hear Reverend Kenneth Loveless sing this one ? A joy ! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: Bonecruncher Date: 16 Jan 07 - 10:36 PM As a matter of interest in my family history, near Winchester, is a Jesse Sillence, employed as a boy by my ancestor Frederick Blundell, a farmer, who in 1842 married Ann, youngest daughter of Frederick, after Frederick had died. Jesse served a term of one month in prison at Winchester for "having permitted a horse, which had fallen into a ditch, to remain unattended for four hours". So the story could easily have connections with Hampshire. Colyn. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Farmer's Boy (the) From: GUEST,Julie Summers Date: 14 Nov 08 - 06:21 PM I have a copy of a newspaper article from 1932 about a man called william neal, the article states he is the great grandson of the man who the song "the farmers boy" is written about - this would be john neal of bignor in sussex. |
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