“The Jolly Plowboy (Little Plowing Boy; The Simple Plowboy)”

Description

A plowboy and a rich girl fall in love. When the girl's father finds out, he sends a press gang for the boy. The girl dresses in men's clothes and rows out to her lover's ship. She bribes the captain to return her lover

Cross references

Broadsides

  • Bodleian, Harding B 12(155), "The Pretty Plough Boy," Burbage and Stretton (Nottingham), 1797-1807; also Harding B 11(3164), Firth c.12(288), Harding B 11(1400), 2806 c.17(335)[some words illegible], Firth b.25(108), Harding B 12(135), "The Pretty Plough Boy"; Harding B 25(1506)[almost entirely illegible], "Plough Boy"; Johnson Ballads 1403, Johnson Ballads 1450, "[The] Pretty Ploughboy"

Recordings

  • Harry Cox, "The Pretty Ploughboy" (on Voice02)

References

  1. Laws M24, "The Jolly Plowboy (Little Plowing Boy; The Simple Plowboy)"
  2. Ford-Vagabond, pp. 284-286, "The Jolly Plowbow" (1 text, 1 tune)
  3. Leather, pp. 208-209, "The Pretty Ploughboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
  4. BrownII 103, "Little Plowing Boy" (1 text plus a fragment)
  5. Chappell-FSRA 71, "The Little Plowing Boy" (1 text)
  6. SharpAp 59, "The Simple Ploughboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
  7. Ord, pp. 233-234, "The Jolly Plowboy" (1 text)
  8. SHenry H105, pp. 331-332, "The Jolly Plowboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
  9. Creighton/Senior, pp. 176-178, "The Jolly Ploughboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
  10. Peacock, pp. 224-225, "The Pretty Ploughboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
  11. Karpeles-Newfoundland 46, "The Simple Ploughboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
  12. Mackenzie 45, "The Jolly Ploughboy" (1 text)
  13. OBB 167, "The Simple Ploughboy" (1 text)
  14. DT 584, JOLLPLOW (BRSKLIVE -- listed as Laws A15, but this is impossible; it appears to be this song with some odd verses about the boy being wounded)
  15. Roud #186
  16. BI, LM24

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: before 1808 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 12(155))
Found in: US(Ap,SE) Canada(Mar,Newf) Britain(Scotland,England(Lond,South,West)) Ireland