FARMER'S BOY, A
(Harry Gifford / Fred E Cliffe)

as recorded by George Formby
February 25th 1936

I've gone in for farming,
I like the life,
Mixed up with sows and rams.
So much time I share
With the animals there,
I'm beginning to baa like the lambs.
The air is so fresh, you get quite a thrill,
But some of the milkmaids are much fresher still!

To be a farmer's boy, down on the farm,
Can't come to harm down there.
Early to bed makes you feel right as rain,
Before I'm asleep I've to get up again!

Down at the village inn the daughter's so nice,
My fresh eggs she does enjoy.
For two eggs she lets me give her kisses, a few,
For four eggs I can kiss her, yes and cuddle her too.
Tonight I'm gonna find out what a dozen will do,
Oh-ho it's grand to be a farmer's boy!

To be a farmer's boy, down on the farm,
Can't come to harm down there.
We've got fourteen pigs, that's a lot you can tell,
Fourteen, that's not counting the farmer as well!

I get ten bob a week and everything found,
And what have I found? Oh boy!
One day the farmer said, "Someone my farm's tried to rob,
Two prize sheep were stolen, 'twas a very bad job!"
I've just sold two fine sheepskin rugs for twenty five bob,
Oh-ho it's grand to be a farmer's boy!

To be a farmer's boy, down on the farm,
Can't come to harm down there.
I milk all the cows and I bob the sheep's wool,
Then play hide and seek with the savage mad bull!]

I met a country maid on marketing day,
With her basket she looked so coy.
She said she was a shepherdess, they called her Bo Peep,
She'd lost her lambs, I said, "I'll help you find 'em, don't weep!"
I know that I found everythin' excepting her sheep,
Oh it's grand to be a farmer's boy!

(Transcribed by Peter Akers - March 2017)