Monday, April 16, 2007

The Farmers Boy

The Farmers Boy

Arr. R. Vaughan Williams

(1872-1958)


Andrew Granlund, conductor

The sun went down behind the hill, Across yon dreary moor:

When weary and lame a boy there came Unto a farmers door.

“Can you tell me if any there be who will give me employ

To plough and sow, to reap and mow and be a farmers boy.

The daughter said “Pray try the lad, no longer let him seek.”

“O yes, dear child” the farmer cried, for tears stold down her cheek.

“For those who’ld work ‘tis hard to wait, or wander for employ,

To plough and sow, to reap and mow and be a farmers boy.

In course of time he grew a man, the good old farmer died;

He left the lad the farm he had, his daughter for his bride;

And now the lad a farmer is, he smiles and thinks with joy

of the lucky day he came that way to be a farmers boy.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

PHILIP,

IT BROUGHT BACK MANY MEMORIES OF MY GRANDMOTHER WHEN I READ "THE FARMER'S BOY."

I'M IN MY MID SEVENTIES AND I CAN REMEMBER HER TEACHING THE POEM TO MY BROTHER AND SISTERS WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG, IN THE 1930'S. SHE WAS BORN IN SCOTLAND IN 1867 OF IRISH PARENTS, WHO SENT HER TO BOARD AT A CONVENT SCHOOL IN DONEGAL, IRELAND, WHERE SHE LEARNED THE POEM. SHE DIED IN NEW YORK, IN 1951. DO YOU KNOW WHO COMPOSED THE POEM?

MANY THANKS,

ED KELLY
USMCBOSS7@AOL.COM