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Jim the Carter Lad

[ Roud 1080 ; Master title: Jim the Carter Lad ; G/D 3:457 ; Henry H171 ; Ballad Index FSC096 ; GlosTrad Roud 1080 ; Wiltshire 355 ; DT JIMCART ; Mudcat 36198 ; trad.]

Lucy Broadwood: English Traditional Songs and Carols Bob Copper: Songs & Southern Breezes Paul and Liz Davenport: Down Yorkshire Lanes Fred Hamer: Garners Gay John Howson: Songs Sung in Suffolk Mary and Nigel Hudleston: Songs of the Ridings Gale Huntington, Lani Herrmann, John Moulden: Sam Henry’s Songs of the People Roy Palmer: Everyman’s Book of English Country Songs

Jim the Carter Lad is a Music Hall song performed and probably written by Harry Linn in the 1860s/1870s. His oldest known printed version is from 1875 but he mentioned the song in a letter to The Era in 1869.

Jim the Carter Lad was also known in America at an early date; it was printed in The Comic Songster (Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1870) p.14, no author given.

Jimmy McBeath sang The Jolly Carter Lad to Alan Lomax in Lomax’s apartment in London on 14 November 1953. This recording was included in 2002 on his Rounder anthology Tramps and Hawkers. The album’s booklet noted:

A fragment of an English song that Gavin Greig says became “well known in the north”. Jim the Carter is sometimes Joe the Carrier (a carrier was a combination of bus driver and shopping agent).

Jack Goodfellow of Rennington, Northumberland sang Jim the Carter Lad to Peter Kennedy in 1954. This BBC recording 22443 was included on the anthology Jack of All Trades (The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 3; Caedmon 1961; Topic 1968). The album’s booklet noted:

A century or so ago, when this music hall ditty was popular, few people in the rural areas ever went far from their villages in their entire lives. A journey to London was an epic adventure to be remembered always. In this immobile world, the waggoner was a romantic figure, envied by men and sighed over by young women, as the many songs celebrating the carefree life of the waggoner attest:

It is a dark and stormy night and I’m wet to the skin.
But I’ll bear it with contentment till I get to the inn.
Where I shall get good liquor and the landlord and his friends.
Sing wo, my lads, sing wo! drive on, my lads, I-o!
Who would not lead the life of a jolly waggoner!

With the coming of the railroad, all this was to change, and in 1835 the rural ballad maker was singing:

Along the country roads, alas. but waggoners few are seen.
The world is topsy turvy turned and all things go by steam.
And all the past is passed away like to a moving dream.

Jim Swain sang Jim the Carter Lad to Bob Copper at the Woodman’s Arms, Hammerpot, Sussex, on 30 October 1954. Copper printed this BBC recording 22763 in his 1973 book Songs & Southern Breezes and it was included in 2012 on the Topic anthology of songs by Southern English traditional singers, You Never Heard So Sweet (The Voice of the People Volume 21). Shirley Collins noted:

Harold Swain, known locally as Jim, was born in Felpham around 1890, and lived at Angmering in Sussex. Bob Copper in Songs & Southern Breezes writes of his meeting with him: “A little way out of the village I came to his garden gate. Jim was sitting hatless on a kitchen chair just outside the open cottage door with his hands placed one on top of the other with the palms down on the handle of a stout ash walking-stick at the level of his chin. … Jim had lost his sight in the great influenza epidemic that had swept the country when he was a young man. … I found in Jim… an inner calm and peace of mind that radiated an aura of contentment all around him. … Jim sang in a rich bass voice many old songs, among them appropriately enough, Jim the Carter Lad.” It was the job Jim had had all his life.

George Townshend sang Joe the Carrier Lad to Brian Matthews on 7 February 1960. This recording was included in 2000 on his Musical Traditions anthology Come, Hand to Me the Glass. An alternative recording made by Ken Stubbs in 1960 was included on the second CD of the album’s 2012 reissue. Rod Stradling noted:

Like All Jolly Fellows That Follow the Plough, this is another popular song among English country singers up to the present day. We know of 35 instances, including two from Scotland and three having crossed the water to America. It is very well-known around Sussex, having been recorded from George Belton, George Spicer, Jim Swain and Cyril Phillips.

Obviously, the song would have considerable resonance for George, who began his working life as a carter boy. He is again joined by his granddaughter Angela on this song.

Cyril Phillips sang Joe the Carrier Lad at The Royal Oak, Milton Street, Arlington, Sussex, on 27 May 1960. This recording made by Brian Matthews was included in 2001 on the Musical Traditions of song from country pubs recorded by Matthews, Just Another Saturday Night. Rod Stradling noted:

This is another popular song among English country singers up to the present day, and has been found up in Yorkshire and Northumberland as well as all over the South. We know of 35 instances, including two from Scotland and three having crossed the water to America. It is very well-known around Sussex, having been recorded from George Belton, George Spicer, Jim Swain and by George Townshend, who sings a very similar version to this on his recent Musical Traditions CD Come, Hand to Me the Glass.

George Belton sang Jim the Carter Lad at Horsham Festival in 1961. This recording made by Tony Wales was included in 2020 on his Musical Traditions anthology A True Furrow to Hold. He also recorded Jim the Carter Lad in 1967 for his EFDSS album All Jolly Fellows…. A third version sung at the Lewes Arms, Mount Place, Lewes, Sussex, on 11 May 1974 was included in 1975 on the Transatlantic anthology recorded at this pub, The Brave Ploughboy.

Frank Hinchliffe sang Joe the Carrier’s Lad at The Stanhope Arms, Dunford Bridge, Yorkshire, on 17 November 1972; This recording was included in 1975 on the Holme Valley Beagles’ Leader album A Fine Hunting Day. David Bland noted:

Joe the Carrier Lad must have followed pretty much the same path from town to country as Gossip John; everything points to it being a 19^th century music hall song, yet, to judge from the number of versions collected this century, it eventually became a widespread favourite with country singers.

Frank remembers first hearing it sung as a young boy, though neither words nor tune stuck in his memory then. The next time he heard it was in the early 1950’s, on one of Francis Collinson’s Country Magazine radio programmes. He immediately went off to the music shop in Huddersfield and ordered a copy of the words and music, which turned out to be exactly the version which Frank Collinson had broadcast in his programme. This explains why Frank’s performance matches the sheet music published by Collinson almost word for word and note for note, even down to the “Whooa!” at the end of the song. Having learned it he then sang it for the first time at a village concert in Holme, with the chorus written out on a large sheet so that the audience could join in. He remarks on this: “I like to see them enjoying themselves, you know. When you’re singing, if they’re all with you, it’s grand”—which sums up his attitude to singing in a nutshell. Frank, now in his early 70’s, lives at Holme, almost at the foot of Holme Moss. All his fife has been spent in the valley, and from leaving school right through to his retirement he worked in various weaving mills there. He has been singing since he was a young lad. He started off in the Sunday School choir but had to leave because he disliked singing serious songs and the choirmaster couldn’t tolerate his flippant attitude to music. So he graduated to village concerts and the like, singing anything he could get the sheet music for. He would spend hours pouring over catalogues of song titles in Woods, the Huddersfield music shop, sending for anything he liked the sound of—“sometimes they were good, sometimes they were a waste o’ brass”. He remembers a time when there were enough concerts, parties and dances in the valley to keep a singer well occupied. These have now disappeared, but he still gets plenty of opportunity to sing with the Holme Valley Beagles. He has no idea how many songs he knows and although he has been singing with the hunt for years he can often surprise them with a song they have never heard him sing before.

And Barry Bridgewater sang Joe the Carrier’s Lad on the Holme Valley Tradition’s 1985 Hill & Dale album Bright Rosy Morning. Ian Russell noted:

Barry: “I got it straight from Frank Hinchliffe. He were always asked to sing that. It’s a right driving song, a good chorus song. I like horses. I don’t know if it’s owt to do with that.”

Will [Noble]: “Me and Barry knew it and Barry started singing it. It suits his voice better than mine. I think he does it exceptionally well. It’s one of his best. He used to get legged up on last verse and I wrote it out for ’im other week. I can fair remember he got it right this night and I gave thumbs up to John.”

Frank Hinchliffe can be heard singing the song on A Fine Hunting Day. There is a fascinating account of how Frank learnt the song in the accompanying booklet of notes.

Johnny Collins sang Jim the Carter Lad in 1973 on his Traditional Sound album The Traveller’s Rest. This track was also included in 1998 on his Fellside anthology The Best of the Early Years. He noted:

A music hall song which has been collected all over the country. Learnt from the fine Sussex singer George Belton.

Bob Penfold sang Rattling Irish Boy in a recording made by Sam Richards, Tish Stubbs and Paul Wilson in between 1974 and 1976. It was first released on a People’s Stage cassette and in 1979 on the Topic album Devon Tradition.

Ted Cobbin from Great Glemham, Suffolk, sang Jim the Carter’s Lad at The Crown, Great Glemham in 1975. This Keith Summers recording was included in 2007 on the Musical Traditions anthology of recordings made by Summers in Suffolk in 1972-79, A Story to Tell Rod Stradling noted:

Like All Jolly Fellows That Follow the Plough, this is another popular song among English country singers up to the present day. As well as the usual southern distribution, it’s also been found in Northumberland and Yorkshire Roud knows of 66 instances, including 6 from Scotland and five having crossed the water to North America, and just one from Ireland. In Suffolk it has also been sung by Gordon Syrett, Tony Harvey and Sam Friend.

The Cornish traveller Sophie Renals sang Jim the Carter Lad in a recording made in 1978 by Pete Coe. It was published in 1987 on the People’s Stage Tapes cassette, in 1990 on the Veteran Tapes cassette, and in 2003 on the Backshift/Veteran CD of songs from this Cornish Travellers family, Catch Me If You Can. Mike Yates noted:

Well-known throughout England. There are a handful of sightings from America and Gavin Greig found the song being sung in Aberdeenshire. Greig called it, “A cheery lay with a healthy sentiment”, and agreed with others that, “it is English and comparatively modern; but it has become traditional”. Sophie’s tune is not one usually associated with the song (and seems, in fact, to be a speeded up version of the tune normally associated with the transportation song Jamie Raeburn). Listeners seeking out the ‘usual’ tune are referred to Tony Harvey’s set on Songs Sung in Suffolk.

George Spicer from West Hoathly, Sussex, sang Jim the Carter Lad in an April 1978 recording made by Mike Yates that was included in 1987 on the Veteran Tapes cassette Ripest Apples.

Gordon Syrett from Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, sang Jim the Carter’s Lad to John Howson in 1982. This recording was included in 1993 on the Veteran Tapes cassette an in 2009 on the Veteran Tapes CD of traditional music making from mid-Suffolk recorded 1958-1993, Many a Good Horseman. John Howson noted:

Published by 19^th century broadside printers, this is a song which has been collected in Ireland, Scotland and just about every English county from Cornwall to Northumberland, with the carter’s /carrier lad’s name changing from Jim to Sam to Joe depending on the location. Having an association with horses, it was also a favourite with East Anglia singers, and other recorded versions include: Tony Harvey, Ted Cobbin and Ray Hubbard.

Tony Harvey from Tannington, Suffolk, sang Sam the Carter’s Lad in a recording made by John Howson in 1985-1987 that was released in 1987 on the Veteran Tapes cassette Songs Sung in Suffolk Vol. 2 and in 2000 on the Veteran CD anthology of popular folk songs, old songs and ballads, Songs Sung in Suffolk. John Howson noted:

The song about the carter’s lad, turns up all around the country. Here we have ‘Sam’, while in Sussex ‘Jim’ is the carter, and in Yorkshire it is often ‘Joe’. Tony first heard this song many years ago from ‘Stalks’ Abbott in Brundish Crown.

Isla St Clair sang Jim the Carter Lad on her 2002 album My Generation.

Ray Hubbard from Dickleburgh, Norfolk, sang Joe the Carrier Lad / Horsey, Horsey on his 2007 Veteran album of “songs, tunes and stories from a Norfolk horseman”, Norfolk Bred. John Howson noted:

Joe the Carrier Lad is often called Jim (or Sam) the Carter’s Lad and is a popular song with many country singers that has turned up all over England, while Horsey, Horsey was written by Box, Cox, Butler and Roberts and published in 1937.

Bob Lewis sang Jim the Carter Lad at the Fife Traditional Singing Festival, Collessie, Fife in May 2009. This recording was included in the following year on his Autumn Harvest album Drive Sorrows Away. Peter Shepheard noted:

A song that was often published on broadsides and is still widely known throughout England, Scotland and North America. Bob had known snatches of the song for many years and got the rest from George Belton, another Sussex singer.

Lyrics

Jimmy McBeath sings The Jolly Carter Lad

Crack, crack, groes ma wheep, ah whistle and ah sing.
Ah sit upon my wagon, ah’m as happy as a king.
My horse is aye so willin, and for me ah’m never sad.
There’s none could lead a jollier life like Jim the cairter lad.

I used to sit upon ma wagon and hear ma father sing.
As merrily as his wheep gaed crack and merrily did he sing.

Crack, crack, goes his wheep, and he whistles and he sing.
Ah sit upon my wagon, ah’m as happy as a king.
My horse is aye so willin, and for me ah’m never sad.
There’s none can lead a jollier life like Jim the cairter lad.

Jack Goodfellow sings Jim the Carter Lad

Me name is Jim the carter a jolly cock am I,
I always am contented be the weather wet or dry;
I crack me fingers at the snow and whistle at the rain
And I’ve braved the storm for many a day and can do so again.

So it’s crack, crack, goes me whip I whistle and I sing;
I sit upon me wagon, I’m as happy as a king;
Me horse is always willing and for me I’m never sad;
There’s nane could lead a jollier life nor Jim the carter lad.

It’s my father was a carrier many years ere I was born;
He used to rise at daybreak and go his round each morn.
He’d often take me with him especially in the spring,
When I loved to sit upon the cart and hear me father sing.

It’s now the girls all smile on me. as I go driving past;
The horse is such a beauty. as we jog along so fast;
We’ve travelled many weary miles but happy days we’ve had,
And there’s none can use a horse more kind nor Jim the carter lad.

So its crack, crack, etc.

[ Now. friends, I bid you all adieu ’tis time I was away;
I know my horse will weary. if I much longer stay;
To see your smiling faces here It makes me feel quite glad,
And I know you’ll grant your kind applause to Jim the carter lad.]

Jim Swain sings Jim the Carter Lad

Chorus (after each verse):
Smack, crack goes the whip; I whistle and I sing.
I sit upon my wagon; I was happy as a king.
My horse is always willing, and me I’m never sad.
There’s none could lead a jollier life than Jim the carter lad.

And he was a jolly wagoner; jolly wagoner was he,
There’s none all in this country so gay as he.
And I’m so simple, so simple as I seem,
I’ll smack my whip and whistle as I drive my team.

I was a jolly wagoner; jolly wagoner was I,
I walked all in this land as so gay as they. [?]
My wagon wheels were turning and my horses’ bells were ringing,
And there’s none could lead a jollier life than Jim the carter lad.

George Townshend sings Joe the Carrier Lad

My name is Joe the carrier lad, a merry chap am I.
I always am contented, be the weather-wet or dry.
I snap my fingers at the frost, I whistle at the rain.
I’ve braved the storms for many a day and will do so again.

Chorus (after each verse):
Oh crack, crack, goes the whip, I whistle and I sing.
I sit upon my wagon, I’m as happy as a king.
My horse is always willing and I am never sad,
For who should lead a life more gay than Joe the carrier lad?

My father was a carrier a twenty year ago
To market of a Thursday almost regularly he would go
Sometimes he’d take me with him, particular in the spring.
Then up I’d step upon the box and hear my father sing.

The girls they do laugh at me as I go riding past.
My horse he is a beauty as he trots along so fast.
For many a mile we’ve put behind and happy days we’ve had.
There’s none can treat a horse more kind than Joe the carrier lad.

I never thinks of politics, or anything so great,
I care not for the high bred talk about the Church and State,
I has to [indecipherable] man to man and that’s what makes me glad
You’ll find there beats an honest heart in Joe the carrier lad.

Cyril Phillips sings Joe the Carrier Lad

My name is Joe the carrier lad, a merry chap am I.
I always am contented, be the weather wet or dry.
I snap my fingers at the frost, I whistle at the rain.
I’ve braved the storms for many a day - will do so again.

Me father was a carrier twenty year ago
To market of a Thursday almost regular he would go
Sometimes he’d take me with him, particular in the spring.
And up I’d sit upon the box and hear my father sing.

The girls they all do smile at me as I go driving past.
My horse he is a beauty as he trots along so fast.
There’s many a mile we’ve left behind and happy days we’ve had.
But none can treat a horse more kind than Joe the carrier lad.

I never thinks of politics, or anything so great,
I care not for their high-bred talk about the Church and State,
I [act a-right] as man to man and that’s what makes I glad
You’ll find there beats an honest heart in Joe the carrier lad.

George Belton sings Jim the Carter Lad

Oh my name is Jim the carter lad, a jolly cock am I,
I always am contented, be the weather wet or dry.
I snap my fingers at the snow, and whistle at the rain,
I’ve braved the storms for many a day and can do it again.

Chorus (after each verse):
Crack, crack, goes my whip, I whistle and I sing.
I sit upon my wagon I’m as happy as a king.
My horse is always willing, as for me I’m never sad,
For none can lead a jollier life than Jim the carter lad?

My father was a carrier, many years ere I was born,
He used to rise at daybreak and do his rounds each morn.
He’d sometimes take I with him, especially in the spring,
And I’d love to sit upon the cart and hear my father sing.

The girls they always smile at I, as I go riding past.
My horse is such a beauty as she jogs along so fast,
She’s travelled many weary miles and happy hours have had.
There’s none can lead a jollier life than Jim the carter lad.

Now it’s time to wish you all goodnight, it’s time I was away,
My horse will only weary if I much longer stay.
To see your smiling faces, it makes me feel quite glad,
Now I hope you all will drink with me to Jim the carter lad.

Frank Hinchliffe sings Joe the Carrier’s Lad

My name is Joe the carrier’s lad, a merry chap am I
I always am contented be the weather wet or dry
I snap my fingers at the frost, I whistle at the rain
I’ve braved the storm for many a day and will do so again

Chorus (after each verse):
Oh, crack, crack goes my whip, I whistle and I sing
I sit upon my waggon, I ’m as happy as a king
My horse is always willing and I am never sad
There’s none can lead a life more gay than Joe the carrier lad

My father was a carrier at twenty years ago
On Thursdays to the market almost regular he would go
Sometimes he’d take me with him, particular in the spring
Then there I’d sit upon the box and hear my father sing

The girls they all do smile at me as I go driving past
My horse he is a beauty as he trots along so fast
And many a mile we’ve put behind and happy days we’ve had
There’s none can treat a horse more kind than Joe the carrier’s lad

I never think of politics or anything so great
I care not for their high-bred talk about the church and state
But I act aright as man to man and that’s what makes me glad
You’ll find there beats an honest heart in Joe the carrier’s lad

Ted Cobbin sings Jim the Carter’s Lad

Now my name is Jim, the carter’s lad and a jolly cock am I.
I always am contented when the weather be wet or dry.
I snap my fingers at the snow and I whistle at the rain,
I’ve braved the storm for many a day and can do so again.

Chorus (after each verse):
Snap, crack, goes the whip and I whistle and I sing.
I sits upon the wagon I’m as happy as a king.
For my horse is always willing, for him I’m never sad,
For there’s none can treat a horse so kind than Jim, the carter’s lad.

Now the girls they all do smile at me as I go driving past,
My horse is such a willing one and he jogs along so fast.
I’ve travelled a many a hundreds of miles and that’s what makes me glad;
For you’ll find there beats an honest heart in old Jim, the carter’s lad.

And now my song is ended and I have no more to say
And with your kind permission I will call some other day.
For to see your smiling faces oh it makes my heart right glad
And I hope you’ll greet a kind applause to old Jim, the carter’s lad.

Last chorus:
Snap, crack, goes the whip and I whistle and I sing.
I sits upon the wagon I’m as happy as a king.
My horse is always willing, for him I’m never sad,
For there’s none can can lead a life so good as old Jim, the carter’s lad.

Sophie Renals sings Jim the Carter Lad

I am Jim the carter lad and a merry sport am I.
I’m always contented if the weather’s wet or dry;
I crack my fingers at the snow and I whistle at the rain,
I’ve braved the storm for many a day and I can do the same again.

Chorus:
Crack, crack goes my whip I whistle and I sing,
I sit upon the wagon as happy as a king;
My horse is always willing, as for me I’m never sad,
And none can lead a jollier life than Jim the carter lad.

My father was a wagoner many years before I was born,
He used to rise at daybreak and do his rounds each morn;
And then he’d take me with him and especially in the spring,
I’d love to sit upon the cart and hear my father sing.

Chorus:
Crack, crack goes my whip I whistle and I sing,
I sit upon the wagon as happy as a king;
My horse is always willing, as for me I’m never sad,
And there’s none can lead a jollier life than Jim the carter lad.

The girls they all smile on me as I go driving past,
My horse is such a beauty and she jogs along so fast;
I’ve travelled for many a weary mile and happy hours we’ve had,
And none can lead a jollier life than Jim the carter lad.

Gordon Syrett sings Jim the Carter’s Lad

Now my name is Jim the Carter and a jolly cock am I,
For I always am contented, let the weather be wet or dry.
For I crack my fingers at the snow, and I whistle in the rain,
I’ve braved the storms for many a day and I can do so again.

For it’s crack, crack, goes me whip, I whistle and I sing
As I sit upon the wagon, I’m as happy as a king.
For me horse is always willing, and for me I’m never sad,
There’s none can lead the jollier life than Jim the carter’s lad.

Now my father was a carrier many years ’ere I was born,
He used to rise at daybreak and would do his round each morn.
He would often take me with him, and especially in the spring
And I’d love to sit upon the cart and hear my father sing.

Crack, crack, goes me whip, I whistle and I sing
As I sit upon the wagon, I’m as happy as a king.
For me horse is always willing, and for me I’m never sad,
There’s none can lead the jollier life than Jim the carter lad.

Now the girls they all smile on me as I go driving pas,.
For me horse is such a beauty and he jogs along so fast.
For we’ve travelled many a weary mile and happy days we’ve had
For there’s none can treat a horse more kind than Jim the carter’s lad.

So now I’ll bid you all adieu, for it’s time I was away,
I know my horse will weary be if I much longer stay.
So to see your smiling faces, it makes my heart quite glad,
And I hope you’ll grant your kind applause, to Jim the carter’s lad.

Tony Harvey sings Sam the Carter’s Lad

Now my name is Sam the carter’s lad, a happy cock am I.
I always am contented, be the weather wet or dry.
I snap my fingers at the snow, and whistle in the rain.
I’ve braved the storms for many a year and can do so again.

Chorus (after each verse):
So snap, crack, goes my whip, l whistle and I sing.
I sit upon my wagon, I’m as happy as a king.
My horses, they are willing, for them I’m never sad,
For there’s none that leads a life so gay as Sam the carter’s lad.

Now my father was a carter many years ’ere I was born,
He used to rise at daybreak and do his rounds each morn.
He used to take me with him, especially in the spring.
I loved to sit upon that cart and hear my father sing:

Now all the girls they smile at me as I go riding past.
My horse he is a beauty and he jogs along so fast.
We’ve travelled many a weary mile and happy times we’ve had.
For there’s none that treats a horse so kind as Sam the carter’s lad.

Now I must bid you all good night, I must be on my way.
My horse he will a-weary if I much longer stay.
But just to see your smiling faces, it makes me feel quite glad.
I hope you’ll grant your kind applause, to Sam the carter’s lad.

Bob Lewis sings Jim the Carter Lad

My name is Jim the carter lad, a jolly cock am I,
I always am contented be the weather wet or dry;
I snap my fingers at the snow and whistle at the rain,
I’ve braved the storm for many a day and can do it again.

Chorus:
Crack, crack goes the whip, I whistle and I sing,
I sit upon my wagon, I’m as happy as a king;
My horse is always willing and I am never sad,
There’s none can lead a jollier life than Jim the carter lad.

Now my father was a carrier many years e’er I was born,
He used to rise at daybreak and do his rounds each morn;
He’d sometimes take I with him especially in the spring,
I used to sit upon the cart and hear my father sing.

Now the girls they always smile at me as I go riding past,
My horse is such a beauty and she jogs along so fast;
We’ve travelled many weary miles and happy hours have had,
I hope you all will drink with me to Jim the carter lad.

Now it’s time to bid you all goodnight, it’s time I was away,
My horse will only weary if I much longer stay;
To see your smiling faces, it makes me feel quite glad,
I hope you all will drink with me to Jim the carter lad.

(Chorus)