Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow

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Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow

24 Mar 01 - 02:29 PM (#424965)
Subject: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Owlkat

Hi, This is a kids song. I vaguely recall that it goes...

It builds and gets longer and longer with each verse.
Your serve
Owl.

24 Mar 01 - 03:42 PM (#425009)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: GUEST,willa

Succeding verses (ad infinitum, though usually up to about ten)count down, eg

The version collected by Cecil Sharp is similar

24 Mar 01 - 04:06 PM (#425031)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: GUEST,Bruce O.

Another version is "One may shall shear my Wethers" in Frank Purlsow's 'Marrow Bone'. In some songs 'mowing her meadow' is a euphemism, as in "The Mower" that A. L. Lloyd sings on the LP 'The Best of A. L. Lloyd', Prestige-International 13066.

24 Mar 01 - 09:10 PM (#425165)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Malcolm Douglas

Counting Songs -2 versions.

One man shall mow my meadow -Click HERE for midi.

The Mower -Click HERE for midi.

Malcolm

Thread #11190 Message #82823
Posted By: JB3 (inactive)
30-May-99 - 03:24 AM
Thread Name: Counting Songs
Subject: RE: Counting Songs

I've a one man, I've a two men to mow down the meadow
I've a three men, I've a four men to carry the hay away
Me four, me three, me two, me one and all lots more
To mow the hay, to carry it away
On a beautiful midsummer's morn.

I've a five men, I've a six men to mow down the meadow
I've a seven men, I've an eight men to carry the hay away
Me eight, me seven, me six, me five
Me four, me three, me two, me one, and all lots more
To mow the hay, to carry it away
On a beautiful midsummer's morn.

Don't know the name of this one, heard it sung by a folk group called Spinning Wheel. Seems to be related to "One Man Shall Mow My Meadow" tho the tune is bouncier.

Thread #11190 Message #82834
Posted By: Philippa
30-May-99 - 05:27 AM
Thread Name: Counting Songs
Subject: RE: Counting Songs

it seems I learned (in N Ireland) a much simplified version of JB3's contribution:
One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow
One man and his dog, went to mow a meadow

Two men went to mow, went to mow a meadow
Two men, one man and his dow, went to mow a meadow

Three men... three men, two men, one man and his dog (etc)

(the pattern reminds me a bit of the Rattling Bog or The Old Woman who swallowed a fly - but those don't count numbers

There were ten in the bed and the little one said "roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over and one fell out
There were nine in the bed and the little one said:
"Please remeber to tie a know in your pyjamas,
Single beds were only meant for [shouted:]one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,
[sung]Nine in the bed and the little one said...
....there were eight in the bed and the little one said,
"Please remember...single beds were only meant for 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7,
Eight in the bed....

24 Mar 01 - 11:29 PM (#425192)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Bert

Wow where did you here the Dog Spot part ? I thought that was exclusive to a YHA group in Essex.

That's the English "School" version, not the Cecil Sharpe collected one. And as Willa says it accumulates to
ten men, nine men, eight men, seven men.....one man and his dog went to mow a meadow.

I never heard the "woof" though, sounds great.

We used to sing it...

One man went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
one man and his dog
Spot, a bottle of pop,
a sausage roll,
an old tin can, a frying pan,
Old Mother Riley and her cow,
Went to mow a meadow.

Bert.

I added the boldface type, because these appear to be the definitive lyrics, believe it or not.
-Joe Offer-

25 Mar 01 - 03:50 PM (#425337)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: GUEST,willa

I like your version, Bert, I'll try it next time I get the chance.

25 Mar 01 - 04:05 PM (#425348)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Penny S.

Dad did bert's version at a Boys' Brigade camp at Brighton. Possibly earlier than bert.

Penny

26 Mar 01 - 02:29 AM (#425621)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Michael in Swansea

And we used to sing

One man went to mow
Went to mow the meadow
One man and his dog
Spot, bottle of pop
Old Mother Riley had a cow
And didn't know how to milk it

Mike

26 Mar 01 - 03:48 AM (#425642)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Dave the Gnome

Has anyone asked Spot the Dog for his version...?

DtG

26 Mar 01 - 04:42 AM (#425654)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler

I used to sing both Bert and Mike's versions when I was a Boy Sprout back in the dark ages, when Lord Rowallan was UK Chief Scout and we never knew his cross-dressing heir wanted to marry the "sex change sailor" who is now faded "celebrity" April Ashley (she must have a book out as she's in all the Sunday papers this week!)
RtS

26 Mar 01 - 12:44 PM (#425872)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: GUEST,JohnB

There was a call in on the CBC Radioshow Basic Black last Saturday, 24th March on this very song, they have a song call in section called the Hum Line. I could not believe that they did not know it. The version I remember goes: One man went to mow went to mow the meadow. One man and his pet Pommeranian Poodle Pup, Pip. Went to mow the meadow. JohnB

26 Mar 01 - 02:15 PM (#425965)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Bernard

Round these parts the 'regional variation' is:

One man and his supersonic sausage dog
with rubber wellies on his feet...

26 Mar 01 - 02:20 PM (#425972)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Mrrzy

On the Ed McCurdy children's album I just mentioned in another thread, is a simpler version:

Next verse is 5, 6, 7, 8 but then counts down to one. Keeps going up to 20, I think. Ed may stop at 16, I always sing to 20.

26 Mar 01 - 07:43 PM (#426203)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Dave Wynn

I have been instructed by my client (hereinafter refered to as Spot) to give notice that any use of the given name (Spot) in any recording , performance , video or any other form of entertainment will come under the Performing Rights issue and therfore be subject to payment and recompense or compensation.

Should any further use of his name be incurred in repetitive song and / or chorus without permission and / or pecuniary arrangement the offender will be subject to prosecution under said act in civil court.

I remain (and on behalf of Spot The Dog.)

Dido , Fido , Rover and Fang.

Solitors at Law

27 Mar 01 - 12:31 AM (#426306)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mea
From: Owlkat

Hi, Bingo, Bert. That's the one. Thanks. Owl.

12 Nov 03 - 11:18 AM (#1052462)
Subject: Lyr Req: One Man Went to Mow
From: Leadfingers

I know this has been mentioned in the forum before,but i was wondering how mant additional lines are used by any one else.

I Have :- One man went to mow went to mow a meadow
            One man and his go , Spot
            A sausage roll and a bottle of pop
            Old Mother Riley and her cow
            Went to mow a meadow.

I believe an old tin can and a frying pan might have got in as well.How long does it go on for ??

I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

12 Nov 03 - 01:47 PM (#1052559)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Joe Offer

I can see the relationship between "The Mower" (a) and "One Man Shall Mow My Meadow," (b) and I can also see how "One Man Went to Mow" is related to "One Man Shall Mow" -but without the (b) link in the middle, it would be hard to see any relationship between (a) and (c). I guess we'd call them distant cousins, if that.
The Traditional Ballad Index has a couple of entries.
-Joe Offer-

One Man Shall Mow My Meadow

DESCRIPTION: Singer states that various numbers of men shall mow her meadow and gather it together, as well as shear her sheep. The song is cumulative, hypnotic, and loaded with symbolism.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1909
KEYWORDS: cumulative nonballad
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South)) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Sharp-100E 100, "One Man Shall Mow My Meadow" (1 text, 1 tune)
Kennedy 291, "The Counting Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, ONEMANMW
Roud #143
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Mower" (imagery)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Me One Man
Mowing Down the Meadow
One Man Shall Shear My Wethers
Notes: It's hard to decide whether there's a ritual element here, or whether the song itself is the ritual. -PJS
File: ShH100

Mower, The

DESCRIPTION: Singer meets a young woman; she has a small meadow needing mowing, it hasnever been mowed before. He mows all afternoon, but the grass remains standing; she tells him to sharpen his scythe, for the work's not finished
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1938 (recording, Warde Ford)
KEYWORDS: sex virginity farming harvest work
FOUND IN: Britain(England) US(MW)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
DT, THEMOWER
Roud #833
RECORDINGS:
Warde Ford, "The Mowing of the Hay" (AFS 4200 B2, 1938; tr.; in AMMEM/Cowell)
A.L. Lloyd, "The Mower" (on Lloyd 1) (on BirdBush1, BirdBush2)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Next Market Day" (plot) and references there
cf. "One Man Shall Mow My Meadow" (imagery)
cf. "The Wanton Seed"
Notes: Lloyd remarks that the song "often appeared on 19th century broadsides," but as he gives no further dates I've refrained from citing that as earliest date. - PJS
File: DTthemow

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Plymouth song Index lists "One Man Went to Mow" in several songbooks:

101 children's songs for buskers, piano/organ ed
Strum-a-song, book 1, arr. by dick sadleir
Sing together!: 100 songs for unison singing (1967)
Sonsense nongs (1992)
Songs that won the war, ed. s. louis gerard

I saw that "Buskers" book in England last year, but somebody else got to it before I did.
I think Bert's post up top is a complete version of the song that Leadfingers is looking for. I saw it listed as a rugby or football song on a couple of Websites. Can anybody send me a tune?
-Joe Offer-
joe@mudcat.org

12 Nov 03 - 02:52 PM (#1052614)
Subject: ADD The Counting Song
From: Joe Offer

Here's the version from Peter Kennedy's The Folksongs of Britain and Ireland. Part of it is posted above, but here's the whole shebang.

THE COUNTING SONG

1. I've a one man, I've a two men, to mow down the meadow
I've a three men, I've a four men, to carry the hay away
Me four, me three, me two, me one, and all lots more
To mow the hay, to carry away, on a beautiful midsummer's morn

2. I've a five men, I've a six men, to mow down the meadow
I've a seven men, I've an eight men, to carry the hay away
Me eight, me seven, me six, me five
Me four, me three, me two, me one, and all lots more
To mow the hay, to carry away, on a beautiful midsummer's morn

3. I've a nine men, I've a ten men, to mow down the meadow
I've eleven men, I've a twelve men, to carry the hay away
Me twelve, eleven, me ten, me nine
Me eight, me seven, me six, me five
Me four, me three, me two, me one, and all lots more
To mow the hay, to carry away, on a beautiful midsummer's morn

4. I've a thirteen men, I've a fourteen men, to mow down the meadow
I've a fifteen men, I've a sixteen men, to carry the hay away
Me sixteen, fifteen, fourteen, thirteen (etc.)
I've a seventeen men, I've an eighteen men, to mow down the meadow
I've a nineteen men, I've a twenty men, to carry the hay away

6. I've a thirty men, I've a forty men, to mow down the meadow
I've a fifty men, I've a sixty men, to carry the hay away

LAST: I've a seventy men, I've an eighty men, to mow down the meadow
I've a ninety men, I've a hundred men, to carry the hay away
Me hundred, ninety, eighty, seventy
Me sixty, fifty, forty, thirty
Me twenty, nineteen, eighteen, seventeen
Me sixteen, fifteen, fourteen, thirteen
Me twelve, eleven, me ten, me nine
Me eight, me seven, me six, me five
Me four, me three, me two, me one, and all lots more
To mow the hay, to carry away, on a beautiful midsummer's morn

Click to play

But #$%^ Kennedy doesn't mention his dog Spot, or the sausage roll. And the tune doesn't fit Spot.

12 Nov 03 - 03:10 PM (#1052625)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Kevin Sheils

When at school our chorus (with elements of others posted above) was

One man and his dog, Spot
Sausage Roll, Walls Ice Cream
Change at the Bank for Golders Green
Old Mother Riley (Reilly?) and her cow
Went to mow a meadow

12 Nov 03 - 07:21 PM (#1052783)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Snuffy

Joe,

the "and his dog spot... etc" bit is definitely an "unauthorised" version as sung by rugby players, schoolkids, etc, and was a much later addition to the original song, which was taught in schools here.

I will try to do an ABC, but am out every night until next Tuesday, so it may not be soon

WassaiL! V

12 Nov 03 - 08:38 PM (#1052814)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Herga Kitty

The version I remember from the Oxford University Morris Men (Cat Corlett in particular) singing went:

My (pronounced me) one man, my two men shall mow my meadow
My three men, my four men shall carry my hay away
My four, my three, my two my one, and then I'll have no more
To mow my hay, and to carry it away
On a beautiful midsummer's morn.

The tune and rhythm are quite different from

One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow
One man and his dog Spot, bottle of pop, Old Mother Riley and her cow etc went to mow a meadow.

The latter version only increases by one man per verse.

12 Nov 03 - 08:42 PM (#1052816)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: fantum

Even more variation on the theme

One man went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
One man and his dog Spot,
And a bottle of pop,
And a sausage roll,
And a big pork pie
And a knife and fork
In a plastic bag
And the girl next door
And Old Mother Riley and her cow,
Went to mow a meadow.

Fantum

13 Nov 03 - 04:40 AM (#1052950)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: s&r

I've used this with new young guitarists since it's familiar to most yougsters over in the UK and the word "meadow" indicates the chord change.

The words vary according to the scout/cub/guide/brownie/school group where the child learned it, and my hand out said "one man and his dog (etc. etc.) went to mow a meadow.

My daughter sang the etc. etc. with great gusto...

13 Nov 03 - 04:52 AM (#1052954)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Kevin Sheils

Unauthorised by whom, Snuffy?

I don't think any of us are arbiters of what goes into the tradition and childrens play songs add a great deal of interest to a study of traditional song and ballad. After all think of the Cruel Mother etc.

The tradition is not set in stone as one official version or original song.

13 Nov 03 - 03:30 PM (#1053275)
Subject: One Man Went to Mow a Meadow
From: Joe Offer

Well, Fantum's version is the one I want to learn. Is this a cumulative song, or what? If it's cumulative, how do you build it? I'm guessing that what Fantum posted is the last go-around, and that it goes this way:

13 Nov 03 - 06:11 PM (#1053367)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: s&r

No, the accumulation is in both the number of men and in the accoutrements:
one man etc
Two men went to mow
went to mow a meadow
two men one man and his dog...
Three men went to mow
went ot mow a meadow
threee men two men one man and his dog
and so on

13 Nov 03 - 08:15 PM (#1053427)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Joe Offer

OK, s&r, but where does the bottle of pop fit in? Do you add to the number of men on one end, and the other stuff on the other?
-Joe Offer-

13 Nov 03 - 09:09 PM (#1053459)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: fantum

Now look you lot this is getting technical and I am dredging this up from 40 years ago.
Yes its an accumulation
I think everyone who fancies their chances as a songwriter adds a line as an initiative test and I reckon variations must abound.
S&R has the form it does accumulate men.
Here is what I believe is the correct form tho saying that is risky.

One man went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
One man and his dog Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.

Two men went to mow
Went to mow a meadow
Two men one man
and his dog Spot,
And a bottle of pop,
Went to mow a meadow.

Three men went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
three men two men
One man and his dog Spot,
And a bottle of pop,
And a sausage roll,
Went to mow a meadow.

Four men went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
Four men three men two men
One man and his dog Spot,
And a bottle of pop,
And a sausage roll,
And a big pork pie
Went to mow a meadow.

Five men went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
Five men four men three men two men
One man and his dog Spot,
And a bottle of pop,
And a sausage roll,
And a big pork pie
And a knife and fork
Went to mow a meadow.

Six men went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
Six men five men four men three men two men
One man and his dog Spot,
And a bottle of pop,
And a sausage roll,
And a big pork pie
And a knife and fork
In a plastic bag
Went to mow a meadow.

Seven men went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
Seven men six men five men four men three men two men
One man and his dog Spot,
And a bottle of pop,
And a sausage roll,
And a big pork pie
And a knife and fork
In a plastic bag
And the girl next door
Went to mow a meadow.

Eight men went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
Eight men seven men six men five men four men three men two men
One man and his dog Spot,
And a bottle of pop,
And a sausage roll,
And a big pork pie
And a knife and fork
In a plastic bag
And the girl next door
And Old Mother Riley and her cow,
Went to mow a meadow.

Well it looks OK and it sings OK
Bit of folklore
When I was very young every year during the summer the local working mens clubs organised a day out for their members and families. All the kids got sweets and money and tickets into fairs etc and hundreds of people then departed on hired buses to the seaside.At the time Grangetown in the NE of England was a fairly small place and the whole place was deserted on trip days At the seaside all the men disappeared off to get drunk and all the families ended up on the beach. During the ride there and back the kids would be in separate buses to adults and the song above is typical of the sort that was sung in the kids coaches. Anyone who had an extra line could stick it in and everyone kept singing till boredom killed it or the words ran out.
Never thought of this for years till now
How come Joe Offer that you and I only correspond on the more esoteric songs.

Fantum

14 Nov 03 - 11:36 AM (#1053593)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: s&r

I'll buy that fantum - that's a typical set of words

15 Nov 03 - 07:36 AM (#1054049)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Dave Wynn

Nice try but you are all wrong. The definitive versions is.
One dog went to mow
Went to mow a meadow.
One dog and his man Fred
Bottle of claret.
Old father teddy and his cow
Went to mow a meadow.

Thats my version an I'm sticking to it.

Anyway the Spot mentioned isn't one of the lancashire Spots.Mowing meadows indeed. I presume he is the black Spot of the family. ;-)

Spot the Dog.

15 Nov 03 - 08:25 AM (#1054075)
Subject: RE: Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Gareth

Hmmm ! Various versions in my memory, based on what I learn't at School, and at the Rugby Club.

But, and it's a big but, there does exist a Filmed version.

"The Bells Go Down" - The Wartime 'Docudrama' on the Auxillary Fire Service in the London Blitz has a sceane of the watch coming on duty, singing "One Man Went to Mow etc."

Detail - Click 'Ere

Gareth

08 Feb 05 - 03:42 AM (#1402282)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,Jim

Good God, don't you people have lives?

Everyone who was a spotty faced kid in England knows without doubt that the amount of men accumulates and each man brings his own lunch, or some kind of implement to eat someone elses lunch. As for spot he had nothing better to do that day!

Jim

09 Feb 05 - 04:13 AM (#1403482)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,anonanonanon

In the mid 1950s, we used to sing at cubs/scouts in South Bristol (UK):

...One man and his dog, Spot,
Bottle of pop,
Old tin can and a frying pan,
Sausage roll, stick it up your all (hole?)
Ashton Gate and a 10 pound weight (wait?)
Old Harry Dolman had a cow
Went to mow a meadow.

Harry Dolman was a longtime chairman of Bristol City Football Club, whose home ground was/is Ashton Gate.
Don't know the relevence of the "10 pound weight" or "wait". Never saw the words written down, but just learned it by ear, hence the possible alternative words.

19 Feb 05 - 09:16 PM (#1415295)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,guest

Ten pound weight???

How much does a soccer ball weigh?

Just a thought....

19 Feb 05 - 09:23 PM (#1415301)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,anonanonanon

Don't be silly!
A 10 pin bowling ball perhaps!
(Heading not recommended).

22 Mar 05 - 09:18 AM (#1440480)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,Guest

One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow
one man ...
and his dog
and a bottle of pop
and a sausage roll
and the girl next door
and a lump of coal
went to mow a meadow

thats the one i remember !!
Steven - Croydon, Surrey

22 Mar 05 - 09:52 AM (#1440513)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Les from Hull

Of course you just knew that there would be a Hull connection...

Arthur Lucan, whose character 'Old Mother Riley' was well-known through film and stage appearances, died and is buried in Hull.

'Old Mother Riley'

(For you young and/or foreign people who won't understand the Old Mother Riley reference)

23 Mar 05 - 08:09 AM (#1441441)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: RobbieWilson

I like Billy Connoly's version
One man went to join, went to join the Parish;
One man, a bottle of wine, a big black greyhound dug called Bob, a lassie called Senga who worked in the Dairy who was hit ower the heid wii' a bread board by the Milanda boy and sundry others went to join the Parish.

And it was shut.

23 Mar 05 - 09:24 AM (#1441511)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Davetnova

Now He's got a Brand New Combine Harvester.

12 Aug 05 - 08:53 PM (#1541416)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,Catt

One man went to mow
went to mow a meadow
one man and his dog, spot
went to mow a meadow

Two men went to mow
went to mow a meadow
Two men, one man and his dog spot and a sausage roll
went to mow a meadow

Three men went to mow
went to mow a meadow
Three men, two men, one man and his dog spot and a sausage roll and a pint of milk
went to mow a meadow

Four men went to mow
went to mow a meadow
Four men three men, two men, one man and his dog spot and a sausage roll and a pint of milk and a can of beans
went to mow a meadow

Five men went to mow
went to mow a meadow
Five men, four men three men, two men, one man and his dog spot and a sausage roll and a pint of milk and a can of beans and a magazine
went to mow a meadow

Six men went to mow
but they didnt mow the meadow
They were too busy reading magazines, eating beans, drinking milk and feeding the dog the sausage roll
to get out and mow the meadow

31 Aug 05 - 12:20 AM (#1553240)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,anne

one man and his supersonic electronic dog with rubber suckers on its feet and ronnie corbett on its back went to mow a meadow.

06 Nov 05 - 07:05 PM (#1598916)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a mead
From: GUEST,John Mitchell

Wow I was trying to find the words for "change at ..." in this song and there seem to be a lot of versons!! the one i sang was different again:

One man went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
One man and his dog Spot,
Sausage Roll, Walls Ice Cream
Change at the Bank for Golders Green
Mary had a little lamb but she didn't know how to milk it.
She milked it here, she milked it there,
she milked it almost everywhere
but she didn't know how to milk it!

18 Mar 07 - 08:09 AM (#2000079)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,Ali

Thankyou for your help in my quest to find the lyrics!

02 Jan 10 - 02:27 PM (#2801694)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST

ive been looking for those lyrics for 5 years

04 Jan 10 - 09:28 PM (#2803593)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Jim Dixon

From A Treatise of Practical Arithmetic and Book-Keeping, by Single Entry by William Tinwell (Newcastle: William Tinwell, 1805), page 55:

9. Suppose 12 men can mow 49 acres of meadow in 4 days; how many acres will 18 men mow in 22 days?

ans. 404 1/4.

[I found this while searching for lyrics, but then the thought occurred to me: I suppose problems like this were common in the agrarian economy. Is it possible the song began as a parody of an arithmetic problem?]

05 Jan 10 - 08:01 AM (#2803847)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Mr Happy

Jim,

Thanks for link.

I'd not realised printers were still using the 'long S' as late on as 1805!

01 Mar 11 - 05:29 PM (#3105205)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,Jacs

I have enjoyed reading all your posts. I was looking for the man mowing with spot, bottle of pop, sausage roll old mother riley not being able to milk her cow etc to give my son for a school PGL trip and thought I might find extra suggestions to add to the list.
I first sang this 50 years ago on Boys Brigade/ Girls Brigade camp and we just added our own things to the list in turn as it went round the coach enroute to Brixham or Paignton or wherever we were headed. This along with Quartermasters Stores and Oh you'll never get to Heaven were the staple songs of all journeys from Sheffield (and boy did we need long songs!) Thanks for reviewing the happy memories to all posters.

07 Oct 15 - 09:15 AM (#3742231)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,Rod Bell

Another version:

One man went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,

Chorus:
One man and his pet Pomeranian poodle pup, Spot
A bottle of pop,
Sausage roll,
Old Mother Riley and her cow,
Big bass drum,
Bottle of rum.
Gallon of gin
And old dustbin
Went to mow a meadow.

Then progressively increase the number of men and count down as usual but gradually speed up the chorus. When it is ten men slow verse and first part of chorus right down but speed up the chorus until it is almost (but not quite) unintelligible, but sing the last 'Went to mow a meadow' very slowly.

09 Jul 21 - 03:38 AM (#4112749)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,Was beginning to think I dreamed this song!

One man went to mow
Went to mow a meadow,
One man and his dog,
Spot, a bottle of pop,
Two baked beans and a sausage roll,
Old mother Riley had a cow and milked it with a spanner.

I grew up in Bristol and this was how it was sung there in the 80s

09 Jul 21 - 04:39 AM (#4112751)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Jos

When I was small, on long car journeys we use to sing the very simplest version of 'One man went to mow ...' (the first version given in the second post).
No Spot, or pop, or sausages rolls or frying pan, etc. And it was before the arrival of plastic bags. Only paper bags in those days.
It brings back memories of being in the back seat of the car, driving in pouring rain with the noise of windscreen wipers, and as the car windows steamed up and I was small anyway, I could hardly see out and therefore I was always feeling (and being) sick.
Even having the tune in my head still makes me feel queasy.

09 Jul 21 - 01:33 PM (#4112784)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: GUEST,#

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQwVBebHyXE

I listened for about a half stanza and thar she blows.

09 Jul 21 - 04:49 PM (#4112802)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: The Sandman

one man went to mow, and never returned.
a bit like Bonnie George Campbell.

29 Jun 23 - 10:21 AM (#4175795)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: and e

... [recording lacks beginning of song]

Five men went to bed (Hey!)
Went to bed with Ashley
Five men, three men, two men, one man and his mobile phone
Went to bed with Ashley.

Six men went to bed
Went to bed with Ashley
Six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his mobile phone
Went to bed with Ashley.

Eight men went to bed (Hey!)
Went to bed with Ashley
Eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his mobile phone
Went to bed with Ashley.

Nine men went to bed
Went to bed with Ashley
Nine men, eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his mobile phone
Went to bed with Ashley.

Ten men went to bed
Went to bed with Ashley
Ten men, nine men, eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his mobile phone
Went to bed with Ashley.

Yah!

Text on youtube page: "Gooners singing '10 men went to bed with Ashley' in the Gatekeeper pub in Cardiff"

Transcribed from this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh8m6fV5OKg

29 Jun 23 - 12:03 PM (#4175798)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: Stilly River Sage

A different tune popped into my head when I started reading this thread, though the YouTube link from July 2021 completely knocked it out again. Too bad none of the early midis connect (and there is one tune link that wants to download - never gonna load those for practical reasons.)

29 Jun 23 - 08:19 PM (#4175835)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: One fine day a man went to mow a meadow
From: and e

Ten Men Couldna Carry Nade

...couldn't carry Nade
Six men, five men, four men, three men, two, one man and his forklift truck
Couldna carry Nade

Seven men couldn't carry Nade
Seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his folklift truck
Couldna carry Nade

Nine men couldn't carry Nade
Nine men, eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his folklift truck
Couldna carry Nade

Ten men couldn't carry Nade
Ten men, nine men, eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his folklift truck
Couldna carry Nade

Sung by fans of the Hibernian Football club. "Nade" I presume is Christian Nadé.

Transcribed from the recording there: https://www.fanchants.com/football-songs/hibs-chants/ten-men-couldny-carry-nade/