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26 May 99 - 01:25 PM (#81877) Subject: godspeed the plow From: Mike Adamson Does anyone know the author and history of this ?19th century drinking song? Thanks Mike |
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26 May 99 - 03:01 PM (#81906) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Richard Bridge I think I know a man who might - one Paul Hurst from slightly south of Maidstone, Kent. I'll try to remember to ask him. I would put it earlier than that and of course over here it would be "plough". Have you tried obvious sources like the Idiot (the Idiom of the People) etc? |
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26 May 99 - 06:49 PM (#81942) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Jo Taylor If it's the one I'm thinking of - & can't find in the DT - I don't think it's a drinking song despite wishing 'good health' to the farmer. Had an idea it dated from aroung the period of the Tolpuddle Martyrs (1830ish?) Here are some bits I half remember:
I plow & I sow
forgotten bit -cows, lambs, cure my own ham?
I have lawns I have bowers
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26 May 99 - 07:09 PM (#81945) Subject: Lyr Add: GODSPEED THE PLOUGH From: Mark Cohen Here's a version I learned, don't remember where it's from: GODSPEED THE PLOUGH Let the wealthy and great Live in splendor and state I enby them not, I declare it For I grow my own rams My own ewes, my own lambs And I shear my own fleece and I wear it By plowing and sowing By reaping and mowing All natrue provides me with plenty With a cellar well stored And a bountiful board And my garden affords every dainty For here I am king I can dance, drink, and sing Let no one approach as a stranger I'll hunt when it's quiet Come on, let us try it Dull thinking drives anyone crazy I have lawns, I have bowers I have fruits, I have flowers And the lark is my morning alarmer So all farmers now Here's Godspeed the plough Long life and success to the farmer ^^^ I'm sure that's been folk processed along the way, but there it is. |
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26 May 99 - 07:28 PM (#81951) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Susan of DT We do so have Godspeed the Plow under that title. |
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26 May 99 - 08:09 PM (#81973) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Mike Thanks for all your messages. Yes, I came across it on an old farmers drinking mug my Father has ( just one verse). I think it may be early 19th century, so the Tolpuddle Martyrs may be a connection. I wonder if there is a recorded author? |
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27 May 99 - 03:54 AM (#82073) Subject: Lyr Add: SUCCESS TO THE FARMER From: JB3 (inactive) In '79 while in Taunton, I stepped into a pub after watching some Morris Dancing (I would have said Barnstaple Morris Men, maybe I have 2 events confused.) I happened to catch a gentleman singing the best farmer/drinking song I had ever heard. He immediately got up to leave and I approached him on his way out. He was in a hurry and took my address, to send me the words. Lo and behold, he did! (How many times have you promised and meant to and didn't?) He's a descendant of Charles Dickens, by the same name. He calls it: Success to the Farmer Come all jolly fellows who delight in being mellow Attend unto me, I beseech you For a pint when it's quiet, come lads let us try it Dull thinking will drive a man crazy I have lawns, I have bowers I have fields, I have flowers And the lark is my morning alarm bird Come jolly boys, now, here's God Speed the Plow Long life and success to the Farmer Now all who are able, come sit at my table And I'll not hear one word of complaining For the tinkling of glasses all music surpasses And I long to hear bottles a-draining For here I am king, I can laugh, drink, or sing And let no man appear as a stranger Just show me the ass who refuses a glass and I'll treat him to hay in the manger May the wealthy and great roll in splendour and state I envy them not, I declare it For I eat my own ham, my chicken and lamb And I shear my own sheep and I wear it Mr. Dickens said believed the song originates from the county of Sussex. ^^ June |
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27 May 99 - 03:11 PM (#82185) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Richard Bridge If it's from Sussex (England) can we have it as "plough" plese? |
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27 May 99 - 07:03 PM (#82228) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Jo Taylor Mark - thanks! Susan - sorry sorry, found it when I put in 'godspeed' as one word! And I might have spelt it plough, being an English song... Mike - My mug (so it's a bit different from yours maybe?)had, I think, the first & last verses as in DT. Perhaps the other half-remembered bits came from hanging about with morris people when it probably was a drinking version as in the other thread which has coincidentaly popped up about this/these song/s. Richard - Thoroughly agree.
Introduced French friends to the tune Speed the Plough (nothing to do with this song except for the velocity of the same agricultural implement!) - they couldn't understand the title so I wrote it down. It's since been known as 'Speed the Plug'... |
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27 May 99 - 11:17 PM (#82283) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Mark Cohen Here's an interesting literary aside, and a question. I once saw a play by David Mamet called "Speed-the-Plow", about the darker side of Hollywood producers. The program notes acknowledged that the title seemed to have nothing to do with the play, but hinted that there may be an esoteric meaning which was significant. I suspect a British connection. Any enlightenment out there? And any connection to the song? |
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27 May 99 - 11:54 PM (#82296) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: manylodges (inactive) I have that as a English boarding house song, the farmer sings first then is aswerd by the sailer who thinks farming is bad. I will copy the song down and get back to you. |
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28 May 99 - 10:23 AM (#82381) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Mike Thanks again everyone. I think "plow" must be the American spelling. Thats how it appears in the DT. Jo - I've seen a couple of verses on different examples of contemporary drinking/farming mugs of better quality than my Fathers. It must have been a bit of a fad around that time, and there probably quite collectable. Thanks again for your interest - Mike |
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09 Sep 00 - 09:47 AM (#294062) Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: THE FARMER'S TOAST From: Snuffy I have a version recorded about 20 years ago by Geoff Higginbottom, which is basically the same as that posted by JB3 but with an extra verse (the second one from Mark Cohen's post). Geoff treats verse 2 as a chorus, repeating it after verses 4 and 6, effectively making 3/4 and 5/6 double verses. He also gives it a different title, viz.
THE FARMER'S TOAST This is also reflected in the tune, which is in three parts. So the full sequence is AC ABC ABC, where C is the chorus. As this is one of 3800+ songs in the DT with no tune supplied, I am posting an attempt at Geoff's tune here. But it looks like you can sing it with or without the chorus, and you could probably sing all 8 verses to any single part of this tune or any combination thereof. Enjoy!
MIDI file: FARMTOST.MID Timebase: 480 Tempo: 160 (375000 microsec/crotchet) This program is worth the effort of learning it. To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here ABC format: X: 136 |
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09 Sep 00 - 12:20 PM (#294119) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: GUEST,Arkie Being a farmer's lad, many years removed from plowing the earth, my affection for items such as this seems constantly growing. Thanks to all! There is also a fiddle tune called "Speed the Plow" or "Speed the Plough" if you will. Is there any connection? |
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09 Sep 00 - 01:47 PM (#294160) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Dale Rose I had the same thought about the fiddle tune as Arkie ~~ which is not all that surprising. Possibly we are both thinking of the fine version by Lonnie Robertson on Lonnie's Breakdown -- Classic Fiddle Music from Missouri, Rounder CD 0375, available where ever fine music is sold, and well worth the price you pay for it ~~ 34 tracks. |
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09 Sep 00 - 03:29 PM (#294210) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Malcolm Douglas No connection at all. "(God) Speed The Plough" was a common expression, for obvious reasons. |
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10 Sep 00 - 05:36 AM (#294470) Subject: Lyr Add: THE FARMER'S TOAST / THE JOLLY FARMER From: Gervase The Suffolk singer Don Shepherd, from whom I learned the song many moons back, recorded the Farmer's Toast with the following sleeve notes: "Properly titled 'the Jolly Farmer', the tune to these traditional words was written by Eric Winter, from whom I learnt it." As far as I know it was originally found in in Sussex, but variants are know all over southern England. The version I sing is slightly different and a little longer than Don's - THE FARMER'S TOAST Come all jolly fellows Who long to be mellow, Attend unto me and sit easy. For a pint when it's quiet, My boys let us try it, Dull thinking will drive a man crazy. I have lawns, I have bowers I have fruits, I have flowers And the lark is my morning alarmer So my jolly boys now Here's Godspeed the plough Long life and success to the farmer. Draw near to my table My boys when you're able, Let me hear not one word of complaining. For a pint when it's quiet, My boys, let us try it, Dull thinking will drive a man crazy. For here I am king I can laugh drink and sing, And let no man approach as a stranger. And show me the ass Who refuses a glass, And I'll treat him to hay in a manger. Let the wealthy and great Live in splendour and state I envy them not, I declare it For I eat my own hams My own chickens and lambs And I shear my own fleece and I wear it By ploughing and sowing By reaping and mowing All nature provides me with plenty With a cellar well stored And a bountiful board And my garden affords every dainty. Were it not for my seeding You'd have but poor feeding; I reckon you'd all starve without me. But whatever the season, I have always good reason To have my companions about me.
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28 May 11 - 10:27 AM (#3161734) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: GUEST,Hulda Rebecca I found a lovely Adams Staffordshire mug with some of the above text in an antiques shop in Murray, Utah, USA. Thanks to Google I found this site and am very happy for the background information to pass on to my darling daughter who fiddles. She is taking the mug to Sweden to live. How culture wends and wanders as it will! Thanks so much! Cheers. |
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28 May 11 - 05:45 PM (#3161889) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: Tattie Bogle There's one in Beatrix Potter's house in Cumbria too! It was on a mantelpice in an upastairs room when we went a couple of years ago! Anyone know how many were made? |
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01 Oct 12 - 04:50 PM (#3412694) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: GUEST,Angela Foolishly I said I would toast the harvest this year at the harvest supper. I thought I would use my God Speed the Plough mug. Can anyone give me a summery of the poems origins in a nutshell please. |
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01 Oct 12 - 05:03 PM (#3412699) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: GUEST,999 http://sylvestermanor.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/god-speed-the-plough/ |
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02 Oct 12 - 12:29 PM (#3413146) Subject: Lyr Add: THE FARMER (from Bodleian) From: Jim Dixon Note this version doesn't contain the phrase "God speed the plough" but I think it is older than the versions that do. From the Bodleian Ballads collection, Harding B 11(1150): THE FARMER. Come each jolly fellow, That loves to be mellow, Attend unto me and sit easy; For a bottle in quiet, My boys, let us try it, For dull thinking will make a man crazy; Whilst here I am king, Let us laugh, dance, and sing; Let no mortal appear as a stranger; But shew me the ass That refuses his glass, And I'll order him grass in a manger. Lal de lal, &c. By reaping and mowing, By plowing and sowing, Dull Nature supplies me with plenty; I've a plentiful board, And a cellar well stor'd, And my garden supplies ev'ry dainty; I have land, I have bowers, I have fruits, I have flowers, And I'm here as a Justice of quorum; In my cabin's far end I've a bed for a friend, With a clean fire-side and a jorum. Lal de lal, &c. Was it not for my seeding You would have poor feeding, For indeed you would soon starve without me; My mind is content When I pay my own rent, And I'm happy when friends are about me. Draw near to my table, Ye boys that are able, Let us hear no more words of complaining, For the ringing of glasses All music surpasses, I long to see bottles a draining. Lal de lal, &c. Let the mighty and great Roll in splendor and state, As I envy no mortal, I swear it; For I eat my own ham, My own chicken, and lamb, And I shear my own sheep and I wear it; I have all things in season, Such as woodcock and pheasant, And the lark is my morning alarmer, So may each good fellow When inclin'd to get mellow, Drink the plough and the good honest farmer. Lal de lal, &c. |
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21 Oct 12 - 08:02 PM (#3423861) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: VivIlo Veith The link to the words on the Sylvester Manor site is a version: God Speed the Plough (trad. adapted by Bennett Konesni) He turned it into a love song for his sweetie HOWEVER his tune is the best I have heard and I like how he used the "Jolly Good Now" for the chorus. Does anyone have him singing it? I heard him in October 2012 at the Sylvester Manor Plant and Sing event (Shelter Island, NY) but thought to turn on my recorder on my phone too late. I have searched the web quite thoroughly and found nothing. http://sylvestermanor.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/god-speed-the-plough/ |
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22 Oct 12 - 05:07 AM (#3424002) Subject: RE: godspeed the plow From: doc.tom The 'chorus' was a common text on harvest jugs and other porcelain back to the 18thC - may have been earlier, I don't know. The tune used generally in the revival was written, as the notes above say, by Eric Winter. There are many textual variants that derive from the revival version - folk process in action! |
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29 Dec 24 - 02:15 PM (#4214317) Subject: Lyr Add: THE FARMER (1800) From: Jim Dixon The oldest published version I can find is in: The Farmer's Almanack ... for ... 1801, by Robert B. Thomas (Boston [Mass.]: John West, 1800), page [36]. Note: Google Books has this cataloged as 1800, but the bound volume they reference consists of several annual issues beginning with 1800. The song appears in the issue for 1801, probably published in 1800. The pages are unnumbered; I deduced page 36 by counting from the title page of the 1801 issue. The page numbers assigned by Google are nonsensical. THE FARMER Come, each jolly fellow, who loves to be mellow, Attend to my song and sit easy: One pitcher in quiet, my boys, let us try it; Dull thinking will make a man crazy. For here I reign king; let us laugh, drink, and sing; Let no one appear as a stranger; But shew me the ass, that refuses his glass, And I'll order him hay in the manger. By ploughing and sowing, by reaping and mowing, Kind Nature supplies me with plenty: I've a plentiful board, and a cellar well stor’d; My garden affords ev'ry dainty. I've lawns and I’ve bowers; I've fruits and fine flowers; I’m here like a justice of quorum: In my cabin's far end, I've a bed for a friend, A clean fire-side, and a jorum. Were it not for my seeding, you'd have but poor feeding; You'd surely be starved without me. I'm always content, when I've paid off my rent, And happy when friends are about me. Draw on to the table, my boys, while you're able; Let me hear not one word of complaining; For the jingling of glasses all music surpasses— I love to see bottles a-draining. Let the mighty and great roll in splendor and state, I envy them not, I declare it: I kill my own lamb, my chicken and ham; I shear my own fleece, and I wear it. I’ve partridge and quail, good cider and ale, And the robin’s my daily alarmer: So my jolly boys, now, that follow the plough, Drink “Long life and success to the Farmer.” |
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30 Dec 24 - 03:17 AM (#4214356) Subject: RE: Origins: Godspeed the Plow/Plough From: Richard Mellish The Eric Winter tune (which is in 3/4 tempo somewhat rubato) seems to have supplanted previous one(s) in the revival, but I first heard the song to the 6/8 tune which it has in O Lochlainn's Irish Street Ballads. I keep thinking I ought to get to grips with ABC notation but I have failed to do so, so I can't post the tune here. But while I'm here I may as well quote Gordon Hall's parody words (which he sang to the Eric Winter tune). I have hunters to ride, A thousand acres set aside, And the subsidies keep rolling in. I have Champagne for lunch. On Russian caviar I crunch, And I pickle my false teeth in gi-i-i-in. I have lawns, I have bowers, Ten jacuzzis, five showers, And a holiday villa in Palma. I've videos and tellies, Two Range Rovers, green wellies. Sod you Jack, I'm all right, says the farmer. |
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31 Dec 24 - 08:14 AM (#4214439) Subject: RE: Origins: Godspeed the Plow/Plough From: GeoffLawes THE FARMER'S TOAST various recordings on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=THE+FARMER%27S+TOAST+song GODSPEED THE PLOUGH various recordings on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Godspeed+the+Plough (LONG LIFE AND) SUCCESS TO THE FARMER various recordings on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=SUCCESS+TO+THE+FARMER+song The Farmer’s Toast / God Speed the Plough from Mainly Norfolk https://mainlynorfolk.info/john.kirkpatrick/songs/thefarmerstoast.html |
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04 Jan 25 - 01:46 PM (#4214697) Subject: RE: Origins: Godspeed the Plow/Plough From: GUEST Odd, I would never thing of God speed as one word.¯\_(?)_/¯ |
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05 Jan 25 - 08:53 AM (#4214752) Subject: RE: Origins: Godspeed the Plow/Plough From: MaJoC the Filk > Odd, I would never thing of God speed as one word. Mebbe it's the plough's name :-) ? There's an entire thread below the line on the naming of Snowploughs. |
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