The Pretty Ploughing Boy
All for a pretty ploughing boy was ploughing on the plain,
His two horses stood resting in the shade;
And as he went whistling down in yonder’s grove,
There he chanced for to meet a pretty maid. From the singing of Lemmy Brazil, Newent 7 May 1966 and Harry Brazil 1 October 1967 (Springthyme 66.5.3 & 67.6.46). In: Shepheard, Peter. Folk Songs and Ballads of the Brazil Family of Gloucester (1967).
All for a pretty ploughing boy was ploughing on the plain,
His two horses stood resting in the shade;
And as he went whistling down in yonder’s grove,
There he chanced for to meet a pretty maid.
For this was his song as he walkèd along,
Pretty maid I devy an degree; [you are one of high degree
If I should fall in love with you my pretty maid,
Your parents they will have me sent to sea.
Now her father overheard it and straight away he goes,
To Johnny the ploughboy on the plain;
He sent for a press gang and pressèd him away,
He was once sent to the wars to be slain.
When she had dressed all in her very best,
And her glove it was lined with gold;
She walked the streets with the tears in her eyes,
In search of her ploughing boy so bold.
Five hundred bright guineas the fair maid she pulled out,
And so merrily she told them all around;
Saying, “All this I will give for my pretty ploughing boy,
That was once sent to the wars to be slain.”
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