Digital Tradition Mirror

The Painful Plough

The Painful Plough

Come all of you bold ploughin' men of courage stout and bold
 Who labor through the winter and the stormy winds and cold,
 To fill your fields with plenty and your barnyards to renew,
 That bread may not be wanted, behold the painful plough.

 Now said the ploughman to the gardener, "Like not your trade to ours!
 But walk your curious borders and gaze upon your flowers
 If it hadn't been for the ploughin' man both rich and poor would rue,
 For we are all dependant upon the painful plough!"

 And Adam was a ploughin' man when ploughin' first begun
 The very next to succeed him was Caine his eldest son.
 Some of this generation the calling must pursue,
 That we may not be wanting, behold the painful plough.

 And Samson was a mighty man, and Solomon he was wise,
 Alexander fought to conquer and was all that we do prize,
 David was a valiant man and many a thousand slew,
 But none of these great heroes could live without the plough

 And I hope that all who hear this song will hold to what is true,
 We cannot cross the raging seas without the painful plough;
 For they must have their bread and cakes , their butter and jam and pease,
 To feed the jolly sailor lad who ploughs the ragin' seas.

 So come all of you bold ploughin' men of courage stout and bold.
 Who labor through the winter and the stormy winds and cold,
 To fill your fields with plenty and your barnyards to renew,
 That bread may not be wanted, behold the painful plough.

my source: Louis Killen CD "A Bonny Bunch"
MX
oct99

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!