God Speed the Plough

[vicker]

My father in law gave me this two handled coffe mug that he picked up at an auction in Pa. It has this nice poem on it, and I thought y'all might apreciate it.

Let the wealthy and the great
Roll in spledour and state
I envy them not and declare it
I eat my own lamb
my own chickens and ham
I shear my own fleece and I wear it
I have lawns I have bowers
I have fruits I have flowers
The lark is my morning alarmer
so jolly boys now
here's God speed to the plough
long life and success to the
farmer

[botebum]

You might also find this interesting
Speed the Plough

Doug

[pookshollow]

I know the tune well! We have a Morris dance called "Speed the Plough" which is (obviously) danced to the tune. It certainly gets your heart rate up.

I'd never seen the words though - thanks!

[Jenn]

Aaah thank you, I sang it many a time with twenty others in a pub room with perfect acoustical raised wood ceiling at the White Lion in Wherwell, Hampshire, England (the third THursday of every month at 8:30 pm, in the back room). And entertain the poor children with my rendition of it now on many an occasion. Here's how we sang it (sort of a homesteading anthem!).

GODSPEED THE PLOUGH

Come all jolly fellows
Who love to be mellow –
Let me hear not one word of complaining.
For the tinkling of glasses
All music surpasses,
And I love to see bottles a-draining.

CHORUS
I have lawns, I have bowers
I have fruits, I have flowers
And the lark is my morning alarmer
So it’s hearty boys now
And it's Godspeed the plow
Long life and success to the farmer

For here I am king:
I can laugh, dance and sing.
Let no man appear as a stranger.
But show me the ass
Who refuses a glass
And I'll treat him to hay in the manger.

Let the wealthy and great
Roll in splendour and state -
I envy them not, I declare it.
For I eat my own ham,
My own chicken and lamb;
I shear my own fleece and I wear it.

By ploughing and sowing,
By reaping and mowing,
King nature rewards me with plenty:
I've a cellar well stored,
And a plentiful board,
And the garden affords every dainty.

[A'sta at Hofstead]

That is great, I may have to make a plaque!

[Maura]

There's a morris dance to the tune? In what tradition? I love morris dancing.

[pookshollow]

The one I know is a Bampton dance - similar in style to "Highland Mary" if you know that one.

We don't dance it much as we're all getting older - and it's considered to be a "pork-producing" dance.

[Maura]

Highland Mary is one of my favorites. I'm sure you've been to the big ale in London, HM was one of the mass dances. I can't dance at all any more and I sure miss it.

Hole-in-the-Bog