We Shepherds are the Best of Men
We Shepherds are the Best of Men
as sung by Fred Jordan
As sung by Fred Jordan, Aston Munslow, Shropshire:
- We shepherds are the best of men
That e’er trod English ground
And when we reach an alehouse
We value not a pound
We drinks our liquor freely
And pays before we go
For there’s no ale on the wold
Where the stormy winds do blow
- A man that is a shepherd
Must have a valiant heart
He must not be faint-hearted
But boldly play his part
He must not be faint-hearted
Be it hail or rain or snow
With no ale on the wold
Where the stormy winds do blow. - When I kept sheep on Blockley Hill
It made my heart to weep
To see the ewes hang out their tongues
And hear the lambs to bleat
So I plucked up my courage
And o’er the hills did go
To pen my sheep in the fold
While the stormy winds did blow.
- When I had safely penned my sheep
I turned my back in haste
And yo a jovial company,
Good liquor for to take
For drink and jovial company
Oh they are my hearts delight
Whilst my sheep safely sleep
All the fore-part of the night.
Available on A Shropshire Lad - Veteran VTD148CD.
as printed by Lucy Broadwood
The song was printed in Lucy Broadwood and J A Fuller Maitland, English County Songs, Leadenhall Press, London, 1893
Lucy Broadwood's notes say:
- "The first verse was taken from the recitation of a lady born at Stoke, Gloucestershire in 1793; the remaining verses were recovered from Thomas Coldicote, shepherd. of Ebrington, Gloucestershire. Blockley, referred to in verse 3, is in the parish adjoining Ebrington. Possibly it was usual for the singer to fill in a local name in the place."
Words and music at http://www.folkinfo.org/songs/displaysong.php?songid=251