Subject: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: timuns@aol.com Date: 08 Feb 97 - 05:51 PM I would greatly appreciate any help in finding the full words and tune to a folksong probably called "The Ploughboy". I've only ever heard it once,on "Radio 3",the BBC classical station in the UK,about a year ago. I've searched through books in libraries and Web sites to no avail. I even wrote to the BBC but being so long after they had no ideas. It is *not* the one about joining the IRA! The gist of the song is the career aspirations of a,yes ,ploughboy. It goes something like this: Key:F; 4/4 ."C4" is middle C 1. I(C5) am(A4) a(C5) lit-(A4) -tle(C5) plouuuugh(D4) boy(C4) 2. Who(F4) whis-(E4) -tles(G4) o'er(Bb4) the(A4) leee-(A4) -eea(G4) 3. blah-blah blah-blah blah blaaaah blah (same tune as line1) 4. a(F4) great(E4) man (G4) I(Bb4) shall(E4) be(F4). There are quite a few verses. All suggestions welcome Thanks,Tim Tim Unsworth,Trowbridge,Wiltshire,UK 8 Feb '97 See also this thread on Jolly Plough Boys |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: walkerje Date: 04 Mar 97 - 02:30 AM Sounds a lot like an old Irish rebel song called "The Merry Ploughboy" about a young farmer who runs off in 1918 to join the IRA and kick the British out of Ireland. Let me know if you want all the lyrics. It's probably a derivation of an older song, as most of the early rebel songs were. Jeff Walker |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Martin Ryan Date: 04 Mar 97 - 05:30 AM There is indeed an earlier song on which Dominic Behan seems to have based "Off to Dublin in the Green" (See DT). The questioin is - can I find the wretched thing? Regards |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Sandy Date: 05 Mar 97 - 01:56 AM I can't help you with lyrics, but ou might get some new leads at the Fiddler's Companion: http://celtic.stanford.edu/tunes/fc/ Search the index using ploughboy and plowboy. You might back up and search the Tune index too.
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Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Martin Ryan Date: 05 Mar 97 - 04:54 AM Ok Tim The song I was thinking of was recorded by the Watersons on "A Yorkshire Garland" and reissued on CD "Early Days" a couple of years ago. Its called "The Ploughboy" and is essentiallya recruiting song for the British Army. The IRA one is basically an adaptation of it.Looking at your few words (the chords mean nothing to me!), it doesn't look like the same song. Any more clues? Regards |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE PLOUGHBOY / THE WARWICKSHIRE R.H.A. From: Sandy Date: 06 Mar 97 - 03:41 AM I don't think this is the right song... but I got this at: http://www.anglia.ac.uk/~operag/music/songs.html THE PLOUGHBOY / THE WARWICKSHIRE R.H.A.
I am a jolly ploughboy and I'm ploughing up the fields all day,
I'll leave behind my pick and spade and I'll leave behind my plough,
Well there's one thing that I'll leave behind and that's my Nelly dear,
CHO: (The Ploughboy)
CHO: (The Warwickshire R.H.A.) |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Martin Ryan Date: 06 Mar 97 - 03:58 AM Lovely! The Watersons version sounds earlier, with less specific refreces and a diferent regiment. A song for all units, obviously! Regards |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Murray Date: 24 Mar 97 - 04:20 AM The fragment quoted sounds rather like a song arranged by Benjamin Britten, called "The Ploughboy" methinks, tune (in sol-fa) s/ m s d m l,-s, d/ t, r f m m r s/ m s d m l,- s, d/ t,r f t, d ---etc. It's actually a stage song from the very early 1800s or before, and talks about the grand ambitions of the singer, now lowly footman, but once a simple ploughboy, who whistled o'er the lea. Is that it? Where you'll get it is another question, but maybe I've given you a clue. _ Cheers M. |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Les Blank Date: 24 Mar 97 - 09:57 AM Murray: Can you tell me what sol-fa is? I've never heard of it, but seriously need some method to communicate melodies sans aural and staff notations. Thanks for your help, Les Blank |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE PLOUGHBOY From: murphy@globalbiz.net Date: 24 Mar 97 - 09:33 PM There was a rich farmer's daughter in Sligo County Sweet hearts she had many of the highest degree She rode in fine splendor and was free from all care 'Til her father's own ploughboy her heart did ensnare
One day as she walking her father's domain
She eased off her walking and lay under a shade
She called on her ploughboy for to rest for a while
Give over your ploughing and come along with me |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: 75074.1501@compuserve.com Date: 18 May 97 - 09:34 AM Hello Tim, I am actually looking for the lyrics of this song, too, but at the same time I am lucky enough to be in possession of a CD of B.Britten's folk songs arrangements where the song titled "The plough boy" is included. It is a recording featuring Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. It was published under the DECCA's "LONDON" label in 1990. Hope this is of some help to you. Best regards Robert
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Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Barry Finn Date: 21 May 97 - 12:13 AM "I once was a plough boy but a soldier I am now I courted pretty Molly a milkmaid I .... I courted pretty Molly I delighted in her charms There's many the long night thatI rolled in her arms Chorus; With me rant full tora laddie fol di die do". Would this a ploughboy fitting the discription. |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Hutch Date: 04 Jun 97 - 07:29 AM I know of two songs about farmboys. The first is the Jolly Ploughboy: Come all you jolly plough boys and listen to me, I'll sing in the praise of the plough, For if we don't labour how shall we buy bread, Work, sing and be merry with all. (this is actually a corruption of two version I had sung as a boy, but it gives the idea) Tune in 3 time:- s/ddr/tdr/tdl/s-s/drm/smd/r-m/smr/mfs/ mrd/s-s/drs/frt/d- The second is one that I can't actually remember but it is somewhere in my unctalogued 78 collecttion, on a 1920ish Zonophone disc called the Merry Farmboy. |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Alan of Australia Date: 06 Jun 97 - 01:53 AM To Les, I think we should start a thread on sol-fa notation, it may be the best way to communicate tunes via these threads. I have seen it many times on old manuscripts and sometimes attached to words only. It is based on Doh-re-me to give the notes of the scale and includes some time values as well i.e. crotchets quavers etc. I have been able to work out some of the rules by looking the notation for tunes I know, but does anyone know all the rules? Cheers, Alan |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: MMario Date: 03 Nov 00 - 04:44 PM John_in_brisbane has sent me the gif for THE MERRY PLOUGHBOY - shall transcribe it shortly. More words then in the DT. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MERRY PLOUGHBOY (John J. Blockley) From: MMario Date: 04 Nov 00 - 09:58 AM THE MERRY PLOUGHBOY (John J. Blockley 1870's (?)) O I once was a mer-ry plough-boy I was a-ploughing of the fields all day Till a ve-ry fun-ny thought came to me that I should roam a-way for I'm sick and tired of coun-try life since the day that I was born So I've been and joined the R. H. A. And I'm off to-mor-row morn. chorus: hur-rah for the scar-let and the blue hel-mets glit-tring in the sun and the hor-ses gal-lop like light-ning with a fif-teen pound-er gun And no more will I go har-vest-ing or gath-er-ing the gol-den corn For I've been and took the shill-ing and I'm off to-mor-row morn. Well I've laid aside my pick and spade And I've lad aside my plough And I've laid aside my two-tined fork, I shall not want it now For there's little sport in England up in the yorkshire dales so high And beneath the kings own standard, aye we'll conquer or we'll die But there's on thing I must tell you of the girl I leave behind And I hope she will prove true to me and I'll prove true in kind And when I do return again a sergeant's wife she'll be with three gold stripes across my arm in the Royal Horse Artillery |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Greyeyes Date: 04 Nov 00 - 10:57 AM I remember singing the Britten ploughboy song when I was a choirboy of 11-13 yrs or so (mid 1970's). It has no connection with the IRA song. I can only remember the line "You forget the little ploughboy who whistles o'er the lea" (repeated) and I'm musically illiterate so short of singing it can't communicate the tune (click for lyrics). This is a good example of what is being discussed in the English traditions thread, sorry to creep. The poster has asked for information about an English folk song, specifically stating it is NOT the IRA ploughboy song, and received a succession of posts about, guess what, the IRA ploughboy song. It is not a criminal offence to admit to knowing English songs, or to discuss things other than Irish music (which I love). |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: MartinRyan Date: 04 Nov 00 - 05:14 PM In fairness, Greyeyes, a large part of the thread was spent in pinning down the ENGLISH antecedent of the IRA version! Regards |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Greyeyes Date: 04 Nov 00 - 05:51 PM My post sounds really snappy, I'm quite embarassed. I'd just posted to the English tradition thread and must have been feeling unusually patriotic. God knows why, my surname is Gahan and I'm more than half Irish. |
Subject: Tune Add: THE PLOUGHBOY From: Snuffy Date: 04 Nov 00 - 06:08 PM Here's the tune for "The Ploughboy", as requested at the top of the thread. It is the one with "whistles o'er the lea" in, and was recorded by Pears with piano accompaniment by Britten. This version comes from Michael Raven's "One Thousand English Country Dance Tunes", self-published, 1984. Raven gives the format as AAB, and I think it would probably end on an A section also. X: 168 T:THE PLOUGHBOY M:2/4 L:1/16 B:One Thousand English Country Dance Tunes, ed. Michael Raven K:C :gf| e2g2 c2e2|A4 G2c2|Bcde f2e2|e4 d2gf| e2g2 c2e2|A4 G2c2|Bcde f2B2|c6 :| K:G g2| f2f2 f2f2|g2G2 G2g2|f2f2 f2f2|g4 G2g2| f2f2 f2f2|g2d2 e2B2|c2A2 d2F2|G6 || I'll post a couple of East Anglian versions of the Merry Ploughboy later
Wassail! V |
Subject: Lyr Add: SCARLET AND THE BLUE / JOLLY PLOUGHBOY From: Snuffy Date: 04 Nov 00 - 06:53 PM THE SCARLET AND THE BLUE (1)I stood beside the old grey mare,And I stood beside my plough, And I've laid aside my two-tine fork 'Cause I shall not want it now. No more to work in the harvest field, And gather in the golden corn. I've been and joined the army And I'm off tomorrow morn. Then hurrah for the scarlet and the blue See the helmets glitter in the sun. And the bayonets flash like lighting To the beating of the old militia drum There's a flag in dear old Ireland Pointing upwards to the sky. And the watchword of our soldier is "To conquer or to die". "The scarlet and the blue is just the blue trousers and the scarlet tunic they used to have, didn't they?" Collected 1983 from Roy Last at Stonham, Suffolk. THE SCARLET AND THE BLUE (2) (JOLLY PLOUGHBOY)I once was a merry ploughboy. I was ploughing in the fields one day,When an idea came and struck me and I said I'd run away. For I'm sick and tired of the country life and the place where I was born, So I'm going to take the good King's shilling and I'm off tomorrow morn. So Hurrah for the scarlet and the blue, See the flags that waving in the sky, And the watchword of our soldiers are, We'll have Home Rule or die. I stood beside my old grey mare, I stood beside my plough No more would I go ploughing the fields, to reap or to sow No more would I go harvesting that beautiful golden corn, I've been and took the good King's shilling and I'm off tomorrow morn. So hurrah for the scarlet and the blue, See the helmets that glitter in the sun And the bayonets shine like lighting To the beating of the old militia drum There's a flag in dear old Ireland Waving proudly in the sky. And the watchword of our soldiers are, We'll have Home Rule or die. Collected 1982 from Gordon Syrett (b 1887) at Mendlesham Green, Suffolk. Wassail! V |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: MMario Date: 04 Nov 00 - 06:57 PM thanks snuff! |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Greyeyes Date: 04 Nov 00 - 07:06 PM Furthermore, I've just noticed the date at the top of this thread, and am now even more even embarassed. |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 04 Nov 00 - 09:52 PM Don't be. The first reply was from someone who hadn't bothered to read even one post! |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: JTT Date: 05 Nov 00 - 01:32 PM The IRA rather than RHA version of The Merry Ploughboy has much the same kind of pattern, but it's "I'm off to Dublin in the green, in the green, where the helmets glisten in the sun, where the rifles clash and the cannons flash to the rattle of a Thompson gun", or words to that effect. Old grey mare etc are standard issue, notwithstanding whichever army you choose to volunteer to. Then there's another Merry Ploughboy which starts:
The lark in the morning, she rises from her nest |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: GUEST,Bruce O. Date: 05 Nov 00 - 02:36 PM Do a Forum search for the thread 'The Ploughboy Revisited', Sept, 1997, for the one collected by Benjamin Britten. You'll find out there who wrote it and who composed its tune. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SCARLET AND THE BLUE (John J Blockley From: Keith A of Hertford Date: 30 Jul 01 - 02:26 PM According to Roy Palmer in his book The Rambling Soldier, this is the original version, written in the 1870s. Odd that the Irish parody is in the DT but none of the English versions.
THE SCARLET AND THE BLUE
Once I was a merry ploughboy going to plough the fields all day, |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 30 Jul 01 - 03:00 PM The RHA and The Scarlet and the Blue should be put in DT as well as the lark-ploughboy one JTT mentioned in his post. The IRA one gets more attention. |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: nutty Date: 30 Jul 01 - 03:50 PM It's taken a long time but I think this is what was required THE PLOUGHBOY |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 30 Jul 01 - 07:36 PM Thanks, Nutty. The "Lark" Ploughboy has a beautiful tune. JTT posted a somewhat different verse, but his song is related to the one you brought up. There are probably more ploughboys out there. |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Snuffy Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:05 PM THE PLOUGHBOY (THE WARWICKSHIRE R.H.A.) in the DT database |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: pavane Date: 31 Jul 01 - 03:12 AM Recorded by 'Oak' on (I think) 'Welcome to our fair'. I have it at home somewhere. |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: GUEST,Mike Cahill Date: 31 Jul 01 - 03:22 AM I know the tune as the curly headed ploughboy |
Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: Joe Offer Date: 05 Sep 02 - 06:32 PM Here's The Ploughboy in the Digital Tradition. I understand we have a number of related songs, but I'm not sure which are related and which are not. Here's a list - which ones fit with "The Ploughboy"?
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Subject: RE: The Ploughboy-anyone know it? From: My guru always said Date: 06 Sep 02 - 01:13 PM Another Ploughboy Song |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ploughboy From: Steve Gardham Date: 29 Nov 15 - 03:13 PM Joe, do you still want all of these ploughboys sorting out into Roud numbers or is it already done? By the way there appears to be no evidence for the John Blockley connection, or the oft asserted performances by Harrigan and Hart who were as American as apple pie. The whole thing was started by guess who? A.L.L. and repeated without further research by the likes of Roy Palmer. It all looks very authoritative in their books and sleeve notes but without any apparent foundation. |
Subject: Lyr Add: 'A flaxen-headed cow-boy, as simple as... From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Nov 15 - 09:12 PM This sounds like a version of the song OP originally wanted: From The New Vocal Enchantress ([London]: C. Stalker, 1791), page 69: S O N G Sung by Mr. Blanchard, in the Comic Opera of the Farmer. A flaxen-headed cow-boy, as simple as may be, And next a merry plough-boy, I whistled o'er the lea: But now a saucy footman, I strut in worsted lace, And soon I'll be a butler, and wag my jolly face. When steward I'm promoted, I'll snip a tradesman's bill, My master's coffers empty, my pockets for to fill: When lolling in my chariot, so great a man I'll be, You'll forget the little plough-boy, that whistled o'er the lea. I'll buy votes at elections, but when I've made the pelf, I'll stand poll for the parliament, and then vote in myself: Whatever's good for—me, sir, I never will oppose; When all my ayes are sold off, why then I'll sell my noes. I'll bawl, harangue, and paragraph, with speeches charm the ear, And when I'm tir'd on my legs, then I'll sit down a peer. In court or city honour, so great a man I'll be, You'll forget the little plough-boy, that whistled o'er the lea. [A similar song was posted here.] |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ploughboy From: Steve Gardham Date: 09 Sep 17 - 02:46 PM To the best of my knowledge and not for want of searching, the origins of this song have still not come to light. Most versions have been collected since 1950, i.e., during the current revival but can easily be backdated at least to WWI when the song was claimed to have been popular among horse artillery regiments. An Essex fragment purported to date back to c1906 is in the Roud Index and general concensus on a possible date is c1880. I'm pretty certain it was never issued as a Music Hall song sheet as I have been searching religiously since the 1970s and have a pretty large Music Hall collection myself. The song titled 'Scarlet & Blue' from WWI is a different song and the similar song by Harrigan & Hart The Blue & the Grey is a Civil War song. It doesn't warrant a mention in Winstock's 'Songs & Music of the Redcoats, 1642-1902' and doesn't appear in any of the WWI song books either official or collected from the men. So.....where do we go from here? |
Subject: ADD Version: The Ploughboy From: Joe Offer Date: 05 Sep 21 - 09:48 PM Here's another Jolly Ploughboy, set to me by Barbara Molloy. THE JOLLY PLOUGHBOY Trad, from the singing of Matthew Byrne’s Hearts & Heroes CD} A jolly young plough boy was plowing up the land With his horses all under a green shade. He whistled a gay song while his horses jogged along all his wishes were to wed a handsome maid, a handsome maid, His wishes were to wed a handsome maid. He finished up his song while his horses ploughed along, saying, “For court’n of this maid I am to blame. And it’s when her ag-ed father sure is come to know, he will send me to the wars to be slain, to be slain, He’ll send me to the wars to be slain. When Mary’s cruel father came for to know that young Mary she was courting on the plain, They sent a troop of soldiers to press her love on board, and they’ve sent him to the wars to be slain, to be slain, They’ve sent him to the wars to be slain. A suit of men’s clothing she easily put on and she’s lined down the pockets with bright gold. And she’s marching down the street, while the tears roll down her cheeks, But she’s marching out like any soldier bold, soldier bold. She’s marching out like any soldier bold. She went to the ship where her true love he did bide. To the captain she did instantly complain. I’m a poor distress-ed maid, looking out for my plough boy. They’ve sent him to the wars to be slain, to be slain. They’ve sent him to the wars to be slain. She’s pull-ed out her purse full of gold, 500 guineas there, and more. And she’s freely laid it down, for her o-wn plough--boy and she’s rowed him in her arms to the shore, to the shore. Rowed him in her arms to the shore. Now what’s like two lov-ers, whe-n they do meet? They will drink and drown all sorrow and woe. They will laugh and they will sing, and they’ll cause the bell to ring. All for joy she’s got the young man she adores, she adores. For joy she’s got the young man she adores. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCTgZ2hFe6E Seems to be related to this version in the Digital Tradition. Elements - he's ploughing his farm, sees the maid, her father gets him impressed, she crossdresses and takes a lot of money and gets him free for a happy ending. If we just say ploughboy/crossdressing, is that distinctive enough? |
Subject: RE: Origins: The Ploughboy From: Joe Offer Date: 05 Sep 21 - 09:59 PM Steve Gardham, if you have some system for separating all these ploughboys by Roud number and essential elements, please post it. I am hopelessly and utterly confused. -Joe- |
Subject: RE: Origins: The Ploughboy From: Steve Gardham Date: 06 Sep 21 - 09:43 AM I'm on it, Joe. |
Subject: RE: Origins: The Ploughboy From: Steve Gardham Date: 06 Sep 21 - 03:56 PM The Ploughboy Come all you jolly ploughboys, come listen to my lays, And join with me in chorus, I'll sing the ploughboy's praise; (Master Title 'The Brisk Young Ploughboy, Roud 1205. The Ploughboy (2) - deleted, don't know why - probably a duplicate The Jolly Ploughboy ???? Jack, the jolly ploughboy, was ploughing up his land; His horses lie beneath the shady tree. (Master Title, 'The Pretty Ploughboy', Roud 186, Laws M24 The Ploughman (3) The ploughman he's a bonnie lad, His mind is ever true, jo; The Ploughman (2) The ploughman he's a bonny lad, And does his work at leisure, (1&2 are the same song without Roud number as they are not in any of the oral tradition collections. They undoubtedly were in oral circulation late 18th century and concern sexual euphemism of the 3 oxen, the foremost being the ploughman's penis and the the other 2 his bullocks. Plenty of different printed copies survive) The Jolly Ploughboy (2) Come, all you jolly ploughboys, and help me to sing; I will sing in the praise of you all. (Master Title 'The Jolly Ploughboy II' -Copper Family The Young Brethren, Roud 202) The Ploughboy (Warwickshire RHA) I am a jolly ploughboy and I'm ploughing up the fields all day, 'Til a silly little thought came into my head I thought I'd be away, The Merry Ploughboy I am a merry ploughboy, I plough the fields all day, (These are both the same song. Master Title 'The Merry Ploughboy' Roud 163) There are hundreds of ploughboy songs. Just enter 'ploughboy' into the Roud Index and you get over a 1,000 hits. 21st may 97 is 'The Ploughboy Turned Soldier' Roud 1446 24th March 97 The Sligo Ploughboy I can't find in Roud but it's probably Roud 675 or Roud 2930. The subject of this thread 'The Flaxen Headed Ploughboy' doesn't have a Roud Number because it's an art song presumably, but as a broadside it is Roud V545. 5th Nov 2000 Master Title 'The Lark in the Morning' is Roud 151. Hope this helps. |
Subject: RE: Origins: The Ploughboy From: GUEST,Philip Jones Date: 29 Jan 24 - 06:42 PM This is most likely what you want. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3p_Z5QGcD4 It seems to have started out here: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/The_Farmer_(opera) and if so, it is from an English opera written by an Irishman. Its title varies The Benjamin Britten / Peter Pears version is probably the earliest, most famous and enduring, but numerous people have hammed it up with new words and spurious claims to originality. It apparently became popular and was 'collected' by Cecil Sharp and incorrectly classified as a folk song by the Engish Folk Dance and Song Society. I came across one website suggesting it is a Fillipino folk song which is total rubbish. |
Subject: RE: Origins: The Ploughboy From: GeoffLawes Date: 30 Jan 24 - 11:38 AM THE PLOUGHBOY - The Watersons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ppnQVaLQJA ,and various other ploughboy songs on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=HE+PLOUGHBOY+%2F+THE+WARWICKSHIRE+R.H.A.+-+watersons |
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