American Old Time Song Lyrics: 02 The Farmers Boy
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 2
THE FARMERS BOY
The sun had gone down behind yon hill,
And o'er yon dreary moor,
When weary and lame, a boy there came
Up to a farmer's door,
Saying: Can you tell me, if any there be,
Can give to me employ?
Chorus.
For to plough, for to mow, for to reap for to sow,
For to be a farmer's boy.
My father is dead, my mother is left
With her five children small
And what is worse for mother still,
I'm the eldest of them all;
Though small I am, I fear no work.
If you will give me employ.-Chorus.
If you cannot me employ, one favor yet I ask,
That is, to shelter me this night
From the cold Winter's blast;
At the break of day
I will trudge away,
Elsewhere to seek employ.-Chorus.
The farmer says, well try the lad,
No further let him seek;
Ohlyes, dear father, the daughter cried,
While the tears rolled down her cheek,
For him that can labor it is hard to want,
Or elsewhere to seek employ.-Chorus.
At length of years this boy grew up,
This good old farmer died;
He left the boy the farm he had,
And his daughter for his bride.
The boy that was, Is a farmer now,
And he oftimes thinks with joy-
Chorus.
On the happy, happy day he came that way
For to be a farmer's boy.