> Folk Music > Songs > The Sower's Song
The Sower's Song
[
Roud 1264
; Ballad Index WT141
; Wiltshire
219
;
words Thomas Carlisle [1795-1881]]
Emily Portman sang Sowing Song in 2008 on Rubus' CD Nine Witch Knots. She commented in their liner notes:
In [Alfred Williams'] Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames this song is described as “a superior piece, not heard out of North Wiltshire”. With a bit of detective work I discovered that in fact the text started life as a poem entitled The Sower’s Song by Thomas Carlisle! I’m not sure how it worked its way from Scotland in to the Wiltshire tradition but I think it makes a great song.
Emily Smith sang The Sower's Song on her 2014 CD Echoes.
Lyrics
Thomas Carlyle's The Sower's Song | Emily Portman sings Sowing Song |
---|---|
Now hands to seed sheet, boys! |
Now hands to seed sheet, boys! |
Chorus (after each verse): |
Fall gentle and still, good corn, |
Old Earth is a pleasure to see |
Old Earth is a pleasure to see |
Old Marth, receive this corn, |
Old Mother, receive this corn, |
Now steady and sure again, |
Now steady and sure again, |