Country Life

"Country Life" is a traditional English song from the singing of the Waterstons. The Waterstons version is the one most people learned the song from. It is included it on their "For Pence & Spicy Ale".

There are 4 more verses than those listed in Rise Up Singing. I am not certain if these other verses are original as they are not included on the above album.

1. In spring we sow at the harvest mow
And that is how the seasons round they go
But of all the times choose I may
I'd be rambling through the new mowed hay.

2. In summer when the summer is hot
We sing & we dance & we drink a lot
We spend all night in sport and play
And go rambling in the new mown hay

3. In autumn when the oak trees turn
We gather all the wood that's fit to burn
We cut & stash & stow away
And go rambling in the new mown hay

4. In winter when the sky's gray
we hedge & ditch our times away,
but in summer when the sun shines gay,
We go ramblin' through the new mowed hay.

5. Oh Nancy is my darling gay
And she blooms like the flowers every day
But I love her best in the month of May
When we're rambling through the new mown hay

6. I like to hear the Morris dancers
Clash their sticks & drink our ale
I like to hear those bells a-ringing
As we ramble in the new mown hay