Speed The Plough 1916

by James Pitt-Payne, london UK - 08 Oct 2006
2006

As I was a walking
on Chilbolton Down,
I saw an old farmer there
driving to town,
a jogging to market
behind his old grey,
so I jump'd up beside him,
and thus he did say:

"My boy he be fightin'
a fine strapping lad,
I gave he to England,
the one boy I had,
My boy he be fightin'
out over the farm,
an' here I be frettin'
an' mopin' at home.

But if there be times
when 'tis just about hard
wi' out his strong arm
in the field an' the yard,
why, I plucks my old heart up,
an' flicks the old grey,
an' this is the tune
that her heels seem to say:

Oh, the hoof an' the horn,
an' the roots an' the corn,
the flock in the fold,
an' the pigs in the pen,
ryegrass an' clover,
an' barns brimmin' over,
they feed the King's horses,
an' feed the King's men.

Then I looks at my furrows
to see the corn spring,
like little green sword blades
all drawn for the King,
an' it's Get up old Bess,
there be plenty to do,
for old chaps like me,
an' old hosses like you.

My boy be in Flanders,
he's young an' he's bold,
but they will not have we, lass,
for we be too old.
So step it out lively,
an' kip up your heart,
for both you an' me, Bess,
be a doin' our part.

Wi' the shocks an' the sheaves,
an' the lambs an' the beeves,
the ducks an' the geese,
an' the good speckled hen,
the cattle all lowin'
the crops all a growin'
to feed the Kings' horses,
the cattle all lowin'
the crops all a growin'
to feed the King's horses,
an' feed the King's men!"

Soft karaoke
Words
piano
piano
piano
piano
*
Speed The Plough 1916
Music by Easthope Martin
Lyrics by C.Fox Smith
© MCMXVI by Enoch & Sons   London
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Sunday 08 October 2006 at 11.11pm
in association with Doug Grierson
*