The Rovin Ploughboy

The Rovin Ploughboy

On Springthyme SPRCD 1038
Jane Turriff - Singin is Ma Life

Sung by Jane Turriff:

The Rovin Ploughboywas was probably adapted from a version of The Gypsy Laddies (Child 200) by a Donald MacLeod, ploughman to the father of local poet John MacDonald - 'the singing molecatcher' - of Pitgaveny, near Elgin. It is probably MacDonald who added, or at least adapted, the localised last verse (Henderson 1975:4-5). Jane always sings 'Drumdelgatie' in the last line for the extra syllable, whereas others sing 'Drumdelgie-o'. She learned the song from her mother, although her husband Cameron also sang it.

The Rovin Ploughboy

1: Come saddle tae me ma aul grey mare,
Come saddle tae me my pony O,
For I'm gan on the road an I'm gan far awa,
I'm gan wi the rovin ploughboy O.

Chorus:
He's ma ploughboy O,
Ma ploughboy O,
An I'll follow the rovin ploughboy O.

2: O last night as I lay on ma fine feather bed,
Wi sheets an blankets sae cozy O,
Bit tonight I will lie in an aul shaky doon
Rowed in the airms o ma ploughboy O.

3: He's ma champion Geordie, ma ploughboy O,
Cups and medals and prizes O,
On bonny Devereon side there's nae een can compare
Wi ma jolly rovin ploughboy O.

4: So fare-ye-well tae aul Huntly toon,
Fare ye well Drumdelgatie,
For I'm gan on the road an I'm gan far awa,
An I'm gan wi ma rovin ploughboy O.

Chorus:
He's ma ploughboy O,
Ma ploughboy O,
An I'll follow the rovin ploughboy O.

Recorded by Peter Shepheard on the Kinross Town Hall concert during the TMSA Kinross Festival in 1974.