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The Ploughman

Scotland ca. 1776.


    The ploughman he's a bonny lad
    And does his work at leisure
    And aye when he comes home at e'en
    He kisses me with pleasure.

    Chorus:
         Then up wi't now my ploughman lad
         Up wi't all my ploughman
         Of all the lads that I do ken
         Commend me to the ploughman.


    The ploughman he comes home at e'en
    He comes both wet and weary
    Cast off the wet put on the dry
    And come to bed my deary.

    Chorus:
         Then up wi't now my ploughman lad
         Up wi't all my ploughman
         Of all the lads that I do ken
         Commend me to the ploughman.


    The ploughman he goes to his bed
    And thinks to get the ease o't
    But he must yoke the stots again
    And brisk about the braes o't.

    Chorus:
         Then up wi't now my ploughman lad
         Up wi't all my ploughman
         Of all the lads that I do ken
         Commend me to the ploughman.


    He has three oxen in his plough
    And two of them are blind jo
    The seeing one he goes before
    The other two behind jo.

    Chorus:
         Then up wi't now my ploughman lad
         Up wi't all my ploughman
         Of all the lads that I do ken
         Commend me to the ploughman.


    Now the blooming spring's come on
    He takes his yoking early
    And whistling o'er the furrowed land
    He goes to fallow cheerly.

    Chorus:
         Then up wi't now my ploughman lad
         Up wi't all my ploughman
         Of all the lads that I do ken
         Commend me to the ploughman.


    I will wash my ploughman's hose
    And I will wash his o'erlay
    And I will make my ploughman's bed
    And cheer him late and early.

    Chorus:
         Then up wi't now my ploughman lad
         Up wi't all my ploughman
         Of all the lads that I do ken
         Commend me to the ploughman.


    Merry but and merry ben
    Merry is my ploughman
    Of all the trades that I do ken
    Commend me to the ploughman.

    Chorus:
         Then up wi't now my ploughman lad
         Up wi't all my ploughman
         Of all the lads that I do ken
         Commend me to the ploughman.


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