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My Jolly Waggoner, Drive On

[ Roud 1302 ; Master title: My Jolly Waggoner, Drive On ; Ballad Index WT236 ; Wiltshire 893 ; trad.]

Bob and Gill Berry sang My Jolly Waggoner Drive On on their 2018 WildGoose CD of songs collected by Alfred Williams in Oxfordshire, Echoes of Alfred. They noted:

A fun little song from the singing of David Sawyer from Ogbourne St Andrew. It would seem that this song should actually be sung by the horse! A new tune from Bob brings the song to life as the horse tries to decide who he’d prefer as a master.

Lyrics

David Sawyer sings My Jolly Waggoner Drive On

I won’t have a carpenter, he’s stingy with his chips;
I’d rather have a waggoner to whip me with his whips.

Chorus (after each verse):
Way! Wo-utt! Drive on!
My jolly waggoner, drive on.

I won’t have a blacksmith, his apron is so black;
I’d rather have a waggoner to whip me on the back.

I won’t have a cowman with a milk pail on his head;
I’d rather have a waggoner who’d whip me instead.

I won’t have a shepherd that goes tending his flock;
I’d rather have a waggoner as stupid as a block.

I won’t have a mower that goes mowing down the grass;
I’d rather have a waggoner who’ll talk to his lass.

I won’t have a reaper, to go reaping in the sun;
I’d rather have a waggoner, though goods he have none.

I won’t have a thresher with his sieve and his flail;
I’d rather have a waggoner, though he whips me a good deal.

And a miller I’ll have none of grinds on the stream;
I’d rather have a waggoner who’s handy with his team.

Bob and Gill Berry sing My Jolly Waggoner Drive On

I won’t have a carpenter, he’s stingy with his chips;
I’d rather have a waggoner who whips me with his whips.

Chorus (after each verse):
Way up! Wo-utt! Drive on!
My jolly waggoner, drive on.

I won’t have a blacksmith, his apron is so black;
I’d rather have a waggoner to whip me on my back.

I won’t have a cowman with his milk pail on his head;
I’d rather have a waggoner who’d whip me instead.

I won’t have a shepherd that goes tending of his flock;
I’d rather have a waggoner as stupid as a block.

I won’t have a mower a-mowing down the grass;
I’d rather have a waggoner who’s talking to his lass.

I won’t have a reaper a-reaping in the sun;
I’d rather have a waggoner, though goods he have none.

I won’t have a thresher with sieve and with flail;
I’d rather have a waggoner, though he whips me a good deal.

A miller I’ll have none of that’s grinding by the stream;
But I will a waggoner who’s handy with his team.