by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931)
Jack the jolly ploughboy
Language: English
As Jack the jolly ploughboy was ploughing through his land, He turned his share and shouted to bid his horses stand, Then down beside his team he sat, contented as a king, And Jack he sang his song so sweet he made the mountains ring With his Ta-ran-nan nanty na, Sing ta-ran-nan nanty na, While the mountains all ringing re-echoed the singing Of Taran-nan nanty na. 'Tis said old England's sailors, when wintry tempests roar, Will plough the stormy waters, and pray for those on shore; But through the angry winter the share, the share for me, To drive a steady furrow, and pray for those at sea. With his Ta-ran-nan nanty na, etc. When heaven above is bluest, and earth most green below, Away from wife and sweetheart the fisherman must go; But golden seed I'll scatter beside the girl I love, And smile to hear the cuckoo, and sigh to hear the dove, With his Ta-ran-nan nanty na, etc. 'Tis oft the hardy fishers a scanty harvest earn, And gallant tars from glory on wooden legs return, But a bursting crop for ever shall dance before my flail; For I'll live and die a farmer all in the Golden Vale. With his Ta-ran-nan nanty na, etc.
Authorship:
- by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931), "Jack the jolly ploughboy", appears in Irish Songs and Ballads, in Anglo-Irish Ballads [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Mary Grant Carmichael (1851 - 1935), "Jack the jolly ploughboy", published 1890 [voice and piano], from the collection Album of Six Songs by A. P. Graves, no. 4, London: Boosey & Co. [text not verified]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-04-12
Line count: 23
Word count: 208