A partial version of the Oxen Ploughing was noted down circa 1940s / 50s from Joe Chynoweth of the Roseland peninsula by Francis Collinson (1898 – 1974) while he was researching for a BBC radio programme called “Country Magazine”. (1)
Martha Woods
Martha Woods (2) was commissioned to recreate a song from these fragments for the Music of the Roseland Project
This song was performed at a Cornish Troyl held at St Mawes in April 2024 to celebrate the traditional music of the Rosleand Peninsula.
Martha Woods’ re working of the Traditional Roseland song “Oxen Ploughing”
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Lyrics reconstructed by Martha Woods and Nev Meek
VERSE 1
It’s oh my little ploughboys, come and waken in the morn,
When the cock upon the dunghill is a-blowing of his horn.
Soon the sun above Gerran’s Bay, his golden face will show,
Therefore, hasten to the linney, yoke the oxen to the plough.
Long ‘fore we awaken, the ploughboy’s begun his toil,
Along the vor he lightly treads as the share cuts in the soil.
Neatly he turns the sods, each vor is long and narrow,
On the morn he’ll be out again to halve it with a harrow.
CHORUS
For it’s the little ploughboy that sings in the morn,
With his up along jump along, he guides the plough along
To Pretty, Sparkle, Berry, Goodluck, Speedwell, Cherry…
For he is the lad that can work along the plough,
For he is the lad that can work along the plough.
VERSE 2
And if the plough should stand still for a very little while,
No crops could then be grown, and the farmer lost his smile.
No seed for next year’s crop, no wheat, no barley, corn or rye,
All around the barren land stock will soon be left to die.
For if the miller had no corn, no flour then could he sell,
Alas, his mill must stand still, and he himself as well,
And if the baker had no flour, no bread then could he bake,
His oven must stand empty, no buns or saffron cake.
CHORUS
For it’s the little ploughboy that sings in the morn,
With his up along jump along, he guides the plough along
To Pretty, Sparkle, Berry, Goodluck, Speedwell, Cherry…
For he is the lad that can work along the plough,
For he is the lad that can work along the plough.
VERSE 3
Now, all you silly tradesmen who think you’re very grand,
You think that your trade will support all in the land
But with no goods to bring to market, then nothing can you sell,
With no bread for the poor man, how long starvation, who can tell?
BRIDGE
Oh, the farmer must have seed, sirs, or I swear he cannot sow,
And the miller with his mill wheel is an idle man also,
And the baker gives up baking and the tradesman stands aside,
And the poor man’s bread is wanting, so ‘tis we for all provide…
CHORUS
And it’s the little ploughboy that sings in the morn,
With his up along jump along, he guides the plough along
To Pretty, Sparkle, Berry, Goodluck, Speedwell, Cherry…
For he is the lad that can work along the plough,
For he is the lad that can work along the plough.
Notes
- Collinson, Francis, M. Collinson Manuscripts, Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, COL/5/45 Oxen Ploughing, (http://library.efdss.org/archives/cgi-bin/search.cgi# )
- Martha Woods is a composer, songwriter multi-instrumentalist from Cornwall. Having grown up immersed in Cornish folk music and dance, she studied Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University with a year abroad at the University of Limerick. Martha draws inspiration from folk traditions across Britain and Ireland, combining them with more contemporary genres. See https://marthawoods.bandcamp.com
See Also
Music of the Roseland Home Page
The Music of the Roseland Project is a collaboration between the Roseland Music Society, the Gerrans and Porthscatho Old Cornwall Society, and the Cornish National Music Archive.
We are grateful for funding and support from FEAST which has made this project possible.