This song is a take on a traditional folk song first published in the mid-1800s. It is believed to be around 200 years old. We took the lyrics from the original song and adjusted the melody and changed the key and then added our own chorus to make it our own. It has a great fiddle part and a foot-stompin' washboard groove.
lyrics
Verse 1
The sun had set behind the hills,
Across the dreary moor,
Weary and lame, a boy there came
To a farmer's door
Tell me if any there be
Who will give employ,
To plow and sow, to reap and mow,
And be a farmer's boy, And Be a Farmer’s Boy
Verse 2
Father’s dead, and mother’s left
Five children small;
And what was worse for mamma still,
I'm the oldest of them all.
I'll work as hard as can be,
If you'll give employ,
To plow and sow, and reap and mow,
And be a farmer's boy. And be a farmer’s boy.
Chorus
Teach the boy the work the land with his hands
Help him grow to be an honest man
We need a shot to show the world what we can offer
We plow and sow, and reap and mow, and watch each other prosper
Verse 3
If you won't give employ,
One favor I to ask,
Shelter me, till break of day,From this cold winter's blast?
At break of day, I'll trudge away
Elsewhere to employ,
To plow and sow, and reap and mow,
And be a farmer's boy.' And be a farmer’s boy
Verse 4
'Come, try the lad,'
the mistress said,
'Let him no further seek.'
'O, dear father!'
While tears ran down her cheek:
'He would work if he could,
And wander for employ;
Don't turn him away, but let him stay,
And be a farmer's boy.' And be a farmer's boy.'
Chorus
Verse 5
And when the lad became a man,
The good old farmer died,
And left the lad the farm he had,
And his daughter for his bride.
The lad that was, the farm he has,
He smiles, and thinks with joy
Of the day he came that way,
To be a farmer's boy.
To be a farmer’s boy.
To plow and sow, to reap and mow,
And Be a Farmer’s Boy
credits
from The Spring EP,
released June 10, 2014
Male Vocals - Andrew Fausnacht
Female Vocals - Megan McDermott
Acoustic Guitar - Andrew Fausnacht
Fiddle - Molly Holden
Banjo - Josh Tweedy
Kick Drum, Washboard, Tambourine - Neil Martin
Engineered, Mixed, Mastered and Produced by Neil Martin
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