Songs about crops

Subject: Songs about crops
From: Hawker
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 05:15 PM

One of my hobbies is making corn dollies, I thought I could combine the two by singing songs about corn, wheat, barley etc..... Just a silly idea! any suggestions?
Cheers! Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Wesley S
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 05:44 PM

To paraphrase Leadbelly -

"Jump down turn around make a batch of corn dollies
Jump down turn around, make 'em every day".

Now tell me what corn dollies are.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: mousethief
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 05:46 PM

We had a thread on this not 3 months ago. But I'll be darned if I can find it. Does anybody else remember this thread? What it was called?

Alex

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: mousethief
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 05:48 PM

Maybe this is the one I was thinking of (it also contains links to earlier threads): Lyr Req: Food songs

Good luck!

Alex

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Hawker
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 06:57 PM

Wesley S,
A corn dolly is a sort of sculpture made out of woven or plaited corn stalks - for more info and examples:click here
I do hope it works, it's my first blue clicky thing attempt!
Thanks for the link Mousetheif, will hunt there!
I thought of:
John Barleycorn
All Among the Barley
Oats & Beans & Barley Grow
The Barley Mow
Bringing in the Sheaves

I suppose most harvest songs would be apt - any gems to offer?
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: davidg
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 07:12 PM

"King Harvest Has Surely Come" by The Band. It begins

Corn in the fields
Listen to the rice when the wind blows 'cross the water...

a perfectly lovely song

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: mousethief
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 08:23 PM

Harvest Home is a lovely song about harvest-time. As sung by Steeleye Span (on "Sails of Silver") it's almost haunting. I'm surprised it's not in the DT. Here's the first verse:

Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest home.

Alex<

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Barry Finn
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 09:32 PM

Jody

I've been working all day long
Ya, Ya....Ya, Ya
Picking that stuff called cotton & corn
Ya, Ya....Ya, Ya

We raise cotton, cane & corn
Ya, Ya....Ya, Ya
Taters & tomatoes & that ain't all
Ya, Ya....Ya, Ya
Prison worksong used for crosscutting with axes.

Hard Times In Old Virginia

Get some corn, lay it down by the fire
Chorus: Hard times in ol Virginia
Get some corn, watch the fire get higher
Chorus: Hard times in ol Virginia
Grand Chorus: Oh, in ol Virginia, hard times in ol Virginia. Oh, in ol Virginia, hard times in ol Virginia

Originally a slave song, later adapted as a log loading shanty

Good luck, Barry

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Hawker
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 05:09 AM

Harvest Home! Forgotten about that one thanks for that mousetheif, Thanks for your contributions Barry, any suggestions where I might find the tunes?
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 05:30 AM

Bringing in the Sheaves; a good chorus song.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: GUEST,wILLA
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 05:40 AM

Sowing on the Mountain
Sowing on the mountain, reaping in the valley, (three times)
You're gonna reap just what you sow
God gave Noah the rainbow sign( 3times)
It won't be water, but fire next time
Won't be water but fire next time( 3 times)
God gave Noah the rainbow sign.
Chords G G G C G D7 G

Mowing the Barley
John barleycorn
The Barley Mow
Can post words/music if you want them, but I think the last three will be in the DT

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: running.hare
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 06:55 AM

"Oats & beans & barley grow"

I remember singing this as a child, but can only seem to remember the chourus, & the lyrics don't seem to be in DT, If any 1 can add to the lyrics I do know I whould be grateful. Thanks

'Oats & beans and barley grows
nor you nor I nor nobody knows
how oats and beans and barley grow.'

Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE BEEN A FARMIN' ALL ME LIFE....
From: GUEST,NSC
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 07:10 AM

How about this little comic gem from Somerset

I've been a farmin' all me life worse luck for I, I say,
For rarely what I takes in hand it never seems to pay,
Me fields and gardens everywhere cost me no end for seeds,
But all that ever seems to grow be them darnation weeds.

The fly be on yon turmots, the jumpers on the hops,
The rain has spoilt me hay and corn I shan't get half me crops.
For what I sells is always cheap and what I buys 'tis dear,
I can't help feeling nowadays that farmin's precious queer.

When I plants them taters, they always gets the blight,
Me pigs and poultry eat seed up it never turns out right.
Me best old horse has fallen down and broken both his knees,
And now me sheep has been and got the foot in mouth disease.

The fly be on yon turmots, the jumpers on the hops,
The rain has spoilt me hay and corn I shan't get half me crops.
For what I sells is always cheap and what I buys 'tis dear,
I can't help feeling nowadays that farmin's precious queer.

I've got a wife outside me chaps her tempers never cool,
Says I to her, "Oh do shut up you aggravating old fool."
I knows 'tis wrong to call her that her puddings you can't beat 'em,
But her yearly adds to a large score of boys and girls to eat 'em.

The fly be on yon turmots, the jumpers on the hops,
The rain has spoilt me hay and corn I shan't get half me crops.
For what I sells is always cheap and what I buys 'tis dear,
I can't help feeling nowadays that farmin's precious queer.

HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 2-Oct-01.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 08:48 AM

Hello Dolly?

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 09:21 AM

Stan Rogers', "The Field Behind the Plow." is a great song. look it up. If you can't find it then send me a P.M., I'll find it for you. I know some people who have his recording of this song.

aLSO, "STARVING TO DEATH ON MY GOVERNMENT CLAIM." aka "THE LANE COUNTY BACHELOR."

How about, "THE BALLAD OF THE BOLL WEEVIL"

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Barry Finn
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 12:24 PM

Hi Hawker, sure.
Jody was collected in 1966 at the Ellis Unit (prison) in Texas by Bruce Jackson. He has a CD of field recordings out on Rounder called "Wake Up Dead Man".
"Hard Times In Ol' Virgina" was collected by Lomax from John Davis & the Georgia Sea Island Singers & is on Lomax's Southern Journey collection vol 13 Earliest Times, again out on CD by Rounder.

Barry

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Alice
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 01:57 PM

The Maid Who Sold Her Barley

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 02:06 PM

The Praties they were small

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Alice
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 03:21 PM

The Garden Where The Praties Grow

Mowing The Barley

Cherry Ripe

Fod

The Boll Weevil Holler

Blue-Tail Fly (Jimmy crack corn)

Po' Farmer

Fiddle-I-Fee

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Alice
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 03:24 PM

Well, I take back Fiddle-I-Fee since it's about animals, not crops, but if you are going for farmer songs, you could include it - plus if you are singing for kids, they like that kind of silly song.

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISIMAS DAY
From: John P
Date: 22 Jul 01 - 01:36 PM

There's a song called "Chrisimas Day" (yes, that's how it's spelled) about animals performing rural agrarian tasks. It's not really a Christmas song at all, but the chorus says "Chrisimas day, Chrisimas day in the morning" so we put it on our Christmas album anyway.

Chrisimas Day

There was a pig went out to dig
Chrisimas day, Chrisimas day
There was a pig went out to dig
On Chrisimas day in the morning.

There was a cow went out to plow…

There was a sparrow went out to harrow…

There was a drake went out to rake…

There was a crow went out to sow…

There was a sheep went out to reap . . .


John Peekstok

Subject: Lyr Add: OATS, PEAS, BEANS AND BARLEY GROW^^^
From: Hawker
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 07:15 PM

Lizabee,
Oats & beans & barley grow,
Oats & beans & barley grow
Do you or I or anyone know
How Oats & beans & barley grow

First the farmer sows his seed
Then he stands and takes his ease
Stamps his foot and claps his hand
And turns around to view the land

Waiting for a partner
waiting for a partner
waiting for a partner
So open the ring and let one in

Now you're married you must obey
You must be true to all you say
You must be kind, you must be good
And help your wife to chop the wood
Chop it thin and carry it in
and kiss your partner in the ring.

As it is in the book The Singing Game by Iona & Peter Opie. Hope this is how you remember it, we I seem to think did it a little different!
Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: running.hare
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 02:37 PM

Thx Lucy, only the chorus seems really familiar, but it'll give me something to play with ;¬)

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 03:23 PM

Crops are, of course, featured in Woody's Deportee and Pastures of Plenty. But Iris DeMent's solo "Acres of Corn" on Tom Russell's magnificent LP "Man From God Knows Where", though not specifically about crops completely knocks me out.

Bob P

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 08:01 PM

Tish HInojosa, "(There Must Be) Something In The Rain" about migrant farm workers and pesticides. I think I posted some of the lyrics in another thread (about songs that make us weep?).

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: GUEST,Alice in Montana
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 08:03 PM

Tish HInojosa, "There Must Be Something In The Rain" about migrant farm workers and pesticides. I think I posted some of the lyrics in another thread (about songs that make us weep?).

Didn't mean to post as a Guest, I forgot the cookie isn't set on this browser.

Alice

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: GUEST,Denise:^)
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 11:02 PM

How 'bout "Bound for Another Harvest Home?" It's on the "Harvest Home" CD by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason. (Seems to me I put the same song on another thread recently...Honest, it's not the only thing I listen to! Really!)

Denise:^)

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: TNDARLN
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 11:16 PM

How 'bout "All Good Gifts" from Godspell: "We plow the fields and scatter...." and then, "Rocky Top" where the corn won't grow at all, etc. There's also a "Sandy Land" kids' song: Make my living in sandy land, grow sweet potatoes in sandy land, etc. Hope these help.
T

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Peg
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 12:25 PM

"Corn Rigs and Barley Rigs" by Robert Burns...appears in the movie "The Wicker Man" with a lovely version by Paul Giovanni and Lodestone...

Lemme know if you want the lyrics I can probably dig 'em up...

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 02:06 PM

Ain't No More Cane On the Brazos

Not sure who originated this one (Joseph Spence, perhaps?), but lots of folks have done it.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Hawker
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 07:15 PM

Thank you all so much, for your suggestions, now researching and learning! I'm going to have fun!
Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Barry Finn
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 10:38 PM

Hi Whistle Stop, I don't know if Joe Spence (or if he'd ever been to the Brazos River) ever did "Ain't No More Cane On The Brazos" but it was recorded from Ernest Williams & gang by John & Allen Lomax while in 1933 at Texas's Central prison farm near Huston. On the prison it was used as a cane cutting song. Lomax says he suspects it's a hold over from slavery but offers nothing that I could ever find to support this. Barry

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: GUEST,catgut
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 12:13 AM

You plant your fields when the Spring is tender.
You pray for the rain in the Summer's sun.
You hope for the harvest, the long cold Winter.
Then you plant your fields again!

c

["You Plant Your Fields" by Kathy Mattea]

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 03:46 AM

Fairport Convention, Red and Gold, of the album of the same name. Not really about crops (It's a wonderful tale about the English civil war) but the chorus is

"Red and Gold are royal colours
Peasant colours are green and brown
Green is the corn in the brown earth when it's growing
Red and gold when the harvest is cut down

Very deep and symbolic and all that. I always sing it when crossing the river Cherwell (twice) going down the M40!

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: GUEST,JMR
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 01:42 PM

How about "Homegrown Tomatoes" by Guy Clark

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 03:43 PM

Here are two more 'corn' and 'barley' types of the Rocky Top influence. Copper Kettle and Mountain Tay.

The Garden Song doesn't mention corn, but it is a clean little busy one. You'll find it in Peter and Annie Blood ( Patterson ) song book, Rise Up Singing.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 04:05 PM

The introduction to "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" (the corn is as high as an elephant's eye...)

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 04:50 PM

Bill Staines' 'Faith of Man' has some wonderful farming images in several verses.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about crops
From:
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 07:10 PM

And don't forget "The Anti-Garden Song"...the one that starts out "Slug by slug, weed by weed...". It's also in RUS.