> Martin Carthy > Songs > Shepherd O Shepherd

O, Shepherd, O, Shepherd / The Shepherd’s Wife

[ Roud 1055 ; Master title: O, Shepherd, O, Shepherd ; G/D 7:1513 ; Ballad Index VWL074 ; VWML HAM/4/29/15 ; GlosTrad Roud 1055 ; Wiltshire 210 ; trad.]

Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, etc. Folk Songs and Ballads of Scotland The Constant Lovers The Everlasting Circle The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs

Ewan MacColl sang The Shepherd and His Wife in 1964 on his and Peggy Seeger’s Folkways album Traditional Songs and Ballads. The album’s booklet noted:

The text of this witty and lively song was first published in Herd’s collection. Robert Chambers described it as “a long rambling dialogue song of not much merit”. The tune which accompanies the version given in the Scots Musical Museum is said to have been communicated by Burns.

Learned from print: Herd [Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, etc.] and Scots Musical Museum.

Martin Carthy sang Shepherd O Shepherd on his 1974 album Sweet Wivelsfield. He noted:

Also from Dorset is Shepherd O Shepherd, collected by Henry Hammond of Dorchester [from Mrs Davis in December 1905, VWML HAM/4/29/15] . Although the song crops up in Scotland many times, this is the only English version. The tune is a modal version of the morris jig Greensleeves. You can find this in the ever-popular Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.

With regard to Scottish versions: Robert Chambers included The Shepherd’s Wife in his book Songs of Scotland Prior to Burns (Edinburgh 1890).

Gordeanna McCulloch sang The Shepherd’s Wife in 1997 on her Greentrax album In Freenship’s Name. She noted:

My association with Clutha has spanned more than 30 years and, although no longer appearing regularly as a group, we still get together for occasional performances. Erlend Voy, John Eaglesham, Ronnie Alexander and, originally Don Martin have, over the years, provided me with a large part of my repertoire. This is just one example, given to me by Ronnie as one which he and I could do together. Unfortunately, it never got off the drawing board. Having another cuddly friend present for accompaniments—Brian Miller—provided an ideal opportunity to include this cheeky wee number. I love the idea of the man playing hard to get. He’s finally coaxed home—not by the promise of good food (if you fancy plumpin porridge) and a clean house, but by his wife’s personal charms!

Jim Malcolm sang The Shepherd’s Wife in 1997 on Volume 4 of The Complete Songs of Robert Burns, in 2007 wih Susie Malcolm on his album of songs of Robert Burns, Acquaintance, and in 2010 on his Robert Burns DVD Bard Hair Day. He noted:

I recorded this cheeky little number for the Linn collection a few years ago. I still get requests for it, so the temptation to do a call and answer thing with “her indoors” was just too strong. This song demonstrates that the woman who thinks the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach is aiming too high.

The Poozies sang The Shepherd’s Wife in 1998 on their CD Infinite Blue, on which they noted:

Patsy [Seddon] found this song, sung by James Malcolm on The Complete Songs of Robert Burns, volume 4. We enjoyed the sentiment that the way to a lover’s heart is not through their stomach (although food comes a very close second in Poozie books!).

Lyrics

Ewan MacColl sings The Shepherd and His Wife

The shepherd’s wife cries o’er the lee:
Come hame will ye, come hame will ye?
The shepherd’s wife cries o’er the lee:
Come hame will ye again e’en, jo?

What will ye gie me to my supper,
Gin I come hame, gin I come hame?
What will ye gie me to my supper
Gin I come hame again e’en, jo?

Ye’s get a panfu’ plumpin parrage
And butter in them, and butter in them,
Ye’s get a panfu’ plumpin parrage
An’ ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.

Ha ha, how, it’s naething that dow,
I winna come hame and I canna come hame!
Ha ha, how, it’s naething that dow,
I winna come hame again e’en, jo.

Ye’s get a cook well totled i’ the pot
An ye’ll come hame and ye’ll come hame;
Ye’s get a cook well totled i’ the pot
An ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.

Ha ha, how, it’s naething that dow
I winna come hame and I canna come hame!
Ha ha, how, it’s naething that dow
I winna come hame again e’en, jo.

Ye’s get a hen well boiled i’ the pan,
An ye’ll come hame and ye’ll come hame.
Ye’s get a hen well boiled i’ the pan,
An ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.

Ha ha, how, it’s naething that dow
And I winna come hame and I canna come hame!
Ha ha, how, it’s naething that dow
I winna come hame again e’en, jo.

A well made bed and a pair of clean sheets,
An ye’ll come hame and ye’ll come hame.
A well made bed and a pair of clean sheets,
An ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.

Ha ha how! It’s naething that dow?
I winna come hame and I canna come hame.
Ha ha how! It’s naething that dow?
I winna come hame again e’en, jo.

A pair of white legs and a good cogg-wame,
An ye’ll come hame and ye’ll come hame,
A pair of white legs and a good cogg-wame,
An ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.

Ha ha, how! That’s something that dow,
And I will come hame, I will come hame!
Ha ha, how! That’s something that dow,
I’ll haste me hame again e’en, jo!

Mrs Davis sings O Shepherd, O Shepherd in The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs

“O shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home,
Will you come home, will you come home?
O shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home
To your breakfast this morning?”

“What have you got for my breakfast.
For my breakfast, for my breakfast?
What have you got for my breakfast
If I do come home this morning?”

“Bacon and beans a bellyful,
A bellyful, a bellyful.
Bacon and beans a bellyful
If you do come home this morning.”

“My sheep they are all in the wilderness.
The wilderness, the wilderness.
My sheep they are all in the wilderness
So I cannot come home this morning.”

“O shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home,
Will you come home, will you come home?
O shepherd, o shepherd will you come home
To your dinner this morning?”

“What have you got for my dinner,
For my dinner, for my dinner?
What have you got for my dinner
If I do come home this morning?”

“Pudding and beef a bellyful,
A bellyful, a bellyful.
Pudding and beef a bellyful
If you do come home this morning.”

“My sheep they are all in the wilderness,
The wilderness, the wilderness.
My sheep they are all in the wilderness,
So I cannot come home this morning.”

“O shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home.
Will you come home, will you come home?
O shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home
To your supper tonight?”

“What have you got for my supper,
For my supper, for my supper?
What have you got for my supper
If I do come home tonight ?”

“Bread and cheese a bellyful,
A bellyful, a bellyful.
Bread and cheese a bellyful
If you do come home tonight.”

“My sheep they are all in the wilderness,
The wilderness, the wilderness.
My sheep they are all in the wilderness.
So I cannot come home tonight.”

“O shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home,
Will you come home, will you come home?
O shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home
To your lodging tonight?”

“What have you got for my lodging,
For my lodging, for my lodging?
What have you got for my lodging
If I do come home tonight?”

“A clean pair of sheets and a pretty lass,
A pretty lass, a pretty lass.
A clean pair of sheets and a pretty lass.
If you do come home tonight.”

“Oh, I’ll drive my sheep out of the wilderness,
The wilderness, the wilderness.
I’ll drive my sheep out of the wilderness.
And I will come home tonight!”

Martin Carthy sings O Shepherd, O Shepherd

“Shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home,
Will you come home, will you come home?
Shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home
To your breakfast this morning?”

“What have you got for my breakfast,
My breakfast, my breakfast?
What have you got for my breakfast,
For my breakfast this morning?”

“Bacon and beans a bellyful,
A bellyful, a bellyful.
Bacon and beans a bellyful,
For your breakfast this morning.”

“My sheep are all in the wilderness,
The wilderness, the wilderness.
Sheep are all in the wilderness
So I cannot come home this morning.”

“Shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home,
Will you come home, will you come home?
Shepherd, o shepherd will you come home
To your dinner this evening?”

“What have you got for my dinnertime,
My dinnertime, my dinnertime?
What have you got for my dinnertime,
For my dinner this evening?”

“Pudding and beef a bellyful,
A bellyful, a bellyful.
Pudding and beef a bellyful
For your dinner this evening.”

“My sheep are all in the wilderness,
The wilderness, the wilderness.
Sheep are all in the wilderness,
So I cannot come home this evening.”

“Shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home.
Will you come home, will you come home?
Shepherd, o shepherd, will you come home
For your lodging this night o?”

“What have you got for my lodging,
My lodging, my lodging?
What have you got for my lodging
For my lodging this night o?”

“Clean sheets and a pretty lass,
A pretty lass, a pretty lass.
Clean sheets and a pretty lass,
For your lodging this night o.”

“Now I’ll lead my sheep out of the wilderness,
The wilderness, the wilderness.
Lead my sheep out of the wilderness,
And I will come home this night!”

Jim Malcolm sings The Shepherd’s Wife

The Shepherd’s wife cries o’er the knowe:
“Will ye come hame, will ye come hame?”
The shepherd’s wife cries o’er the knowe,
“Will ye come hame again e’en, jo?”

“What will ye gie me tae my supper,
Gin I come hame, gin I come hame?
What will ye gie me tae my supper,
Gin I come hame again e’en, jo?”

“Ye’s get a panfu’ o’ plumpin parridge
And butter in them and butter in them
Ye’s get a panfu’ o’ plumpin parridge
Gin ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.”

“Ha ha how, that’s naething that dow,
I winna come hame, I canna come hame,
Ha ha how, that’s naething that dow,
I winna come hame again e’en, jo.”

“A reekin fat hen, weel fried i’ the pan,
Gin ye’ll come hame, gin ye’ll come hame,
A reekin fat hen, weel fried i’ the pan,
Gin ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.”

“Ye’s get a clean cogie o uisque beatha,
Gin ye’ll come hame, gin ye’ll come hame.
Ye’s get a clean cogie o uisque beatha,
Gin ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.”

“A loving wife in lily-white linens,
Gin ye’ll come hame, gin ye’ll come hame.
A loving wife in lily-white linens,
Gin ye’ll come hame again e’en, jo.”

“Ha ha how, that’s something that dow,
I will come hame, I will come hame.
Ha ha how, that’s something that dow
I will come hame again e’en, jo.”

Acknowledgements

Martin Carthy’s version transcribed by Garry Gillard.