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All of a Row

[Trad. arr. Carthy]

Martin Carthy recorded this song with the Albion Country Band in 1973 for the then shelved album Battle of the Field. When it finally came out, this track had been replaced by another one, Reaphook and Sickle. In the meantime, Martin recorded All of a Row solo for his 1974 album Sweet Wivelsfield. This track was later included in the 1993 compilation Rigs of the Time: The Best of Martin Carthy. And he finally sang it with the Albion Band on their and Keith Dewhurst's theatre production and album Lark Rise to Candleford.

Martin Carthy said in the Sweet Wivelsfield sleeve notes:

Both John Barleycorn and All of a Row are, in their separate and different ways, songs about the cycle of seasons. One has the idea that the corn spirit is indestructible no matter what, and alive in all things remotely touched by it, and the other the idea that the cycle of planting and reaping is of necessity never ending. In a way one idea cannot survive without the other.

Lyrics

As the harvest comes on and the reaping begins
The farmer the fruit of the earth gathers in
In mirth let us talk till the season be gone
And at night give a holler till it's all of a row
Till it's all of a row
At night give a holler till it's all of a row

Then early next morning our hooks we do grind
Away to the cornfield to reap and to bind
Our foreman looks back and he sees 'em behind
And he gives a loud hallo
Bring it all well behind
Bring it all well behind
He gives a loud hallo bring it all well behind

Oh then says our foreman behind and before
We will have a fresh wet and a half a pint more
So me jolly boys to the end we will go
To the end we will go till it's all of a row
Till it's all of a row
To the end we will go till it's all of a row

When the night it comes on to the farm we will steer
To partake a good supper and to drink a strong beer
In wishing the farmer such blessings in life
As in drinking a health unto him and his wife
Unto him and his wife
As in drinking a health unto him and his wife

Our wheat's all in oats and barley abound
Here's success to the farmer who ploughs through the ground
As to this wheat stubble it to turnips we'll sow
And so we'll continue till it's all of a row
Till it's all of a row
And so we'll continue till it's all of a row

Acknowledgements

Transcribed from the singing of Martin Carthy by Garry Gillard