Wiltshire Community History
Folk Song Information
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Book Title | Author | Date | Notes |
Song Title | Haymakers |
Roud No. | 153 |
Collected From | Luker, Jane Mrs. |
Location | Arlington |
County | Gloucestershire |
Collected By | Williams, Alfred |
Alternative Title | |
Tune | |
Date | |
Source Primary | WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 2 - Wiltshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Gl 46 |
Source Secondary | Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 13th May, 1916, p 3, Part 30, No. 7: Williams, A: Folk songs of the upper Thames, 1923, p 187, 188 |
Recording | |
Song Lyrics | |
Verse 1 In the pleasant month of May, In the spring-time of the year, 'Twas down in yonder meadow, There's a river runs so clear; 'Twas there the pretty fishes, How they do sport and play! And every lad and every lass, Went there a-haymaking. Verse 2 In comes the jolly scythes-men, To mow the meadow down, With the good old leather bottle, And the ale that is so brown; There's many a stout young labouring man, Comes here his skill to try, While he sweats and blows, and stoutly mows, For the grass cuts very dry. Verse 3 Here's nimble Ben and Tom, With pitchfork and with rake, Here's Molly, Liz and Sue, Come here the hay to make; While sweet, sweet, sweet; jug, jug, jug, The merry nightingale doth sing, From morning until evening, As they were hay making. Verse 4 Just as that bright day faded, And the sun was going down, There was a jolly piper, Coming from the town; He pulled out his pipe and tabor, And sweetly he did play, And every lad, and every lass, They left off hay making. Verse 5 Then, joining in a dance, They jigged it on the green, Though tired with the labour, Not one less was seen; But, sporting like some fairies, Their dance they did pursue, In leading up, and casting off, Till morning was in view. Verse 6 When tired of the dancing, Not one did leave the throng, They slept all in the hay cocks, Till the rising of the sun; The sun did shine most glorious, And sweet the birds did sing, Then every lad and every lass, Went again a-hay making. | |
Print Song Lyrics | |
Notes | |
Williams, Alfred: Ms / WGS: 'This was formerly highly popular throughout the Thames Vale. I have heard parts of it at Kemble, Blunsdon, South Marston and Childrey, near Wantage, Berkshire. The full copy I obtained of Mrs Jane Looker, Bibury, Gloucestershire.' Williams, Alfred: FSUT: 'This was formerly exceedingly popular throughout the Thames Vale. I have heard parts of it at Kemble, Blunsdon, South Marston and Childrey, near Wantage, Berkshire. The full copy I obtained of Mrs Jane Looker, Arlington, Bibury, Gloucestershire.' Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2010. |
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