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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

Now hands to seed sheet, boys!
We step and we cast; old Time’s on wing;
And would ye partake of Harvest’s joys,
The corn must be sown in Spring.

Chorus (after each verse):
Fall gently and still, good corn,
Lie warm in thy earthy bed;
And stand so yellow some morn,
For beast and man must be fed.

Old Earth is a pleasure to see
In sunshiny cloak of red and green;
The furrow lies fresh, this Year will be
As Years that are past have been.

Old Marth, receive this corn,
The son of Six Thousand golden sires;
All these on thy kindly breast were born;
One more thy poor child requires.

Now steady and sure again,
And measure of stroke and step we keep;
Thus up and down we cast our grain;
Sow well, and you gladly reap.

Emily Portman sings Sowing Song

Now hands to seed sheet, boys!
We step and we cast; old Time’s on wing.
And, would you partake of Harvest joys,
The corn must be sown in spring.

Fall gentle and still, good corn,
Lie warm in your earthy bed;
And stand so yellow all in the morn,
For beast and man must be fed.

Old Earth is a pleasure to see
With sunshiny cloak of red and green;
The furrow lies fresh, and this year shall be
As years that are past have been.

Old Mother, receive this corn,
The son of six thousand golden sires;
All these on thy kindly breast were born,
One more your poor child requires.

Now steady and sure again,
And measure of stroke and step we keep;
Thus up and down we cast our grain,
Sow well, and you shall gladly reap.