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The Bonny Labouring Boy

[ Roud 1162 ; Laws M14 ; Ballad Index LM14 ; trad.]

Shirley Collins sang this 19^th century Southern English song in 1959 on her first LP Sweet England. A live performance recorded in Dublin in 1978 was published on the three albums, Snapshots, Harking Back, and Within Sound. The latter anthology also contains her earliest recording of this song, from London in 1957.

Shirley Collins also sang The Bonny Labouring Boy at the end of the National Theatre's play Lark Rise. Sadly this song didn't find its way on the Lark Rise to Candleford album. However, in 2008 the Lark Rise Band re-recorded it with Ruth Angell singing for the CD Lark Rise Revisited.

The Bonny Labouring Boy is also the title track of Harry Cox's 2CD set The Bonny Labouring Boy: Traditional Songs & Tunes from a Norfolk Farm Worker. It was recorded by Charles Parker and Ewan MacColl in the mid-1960s.

Jackie Oates recorded The Bonny Labouring Boy in 2008 for her second CD, The Violet Hour.

Bryony Griffith sang this song as Bonny Boy in 2010 on the Demon Barbers' CD The Adventures of Captain Ward. Their source is Frank Purslow's book Marrowbones.

Lyrics

Shirley Collins sings The Bonny Labouring Boy

As I roved out one May morning all in the blooming spring,
I overheard a maid complain and grievous did she sing.
How cruel were her parents; they did her so annoy,
For they would not let her marry her bonny labouring boy.

Now Johnny was her true love's name as you may plainly see
Her parents they employed him their labouring boy to be;
To plough the soil and reap and mow upon her father's land
And she did fall in love with him as you may understand.

They courted for a twelve-month long but little did they know
That both their cruel parents did plan their overthrow.
They watched them close one evening down by some shady grove
And heard them pledge each other in the constant bond of love.

Her father he strode up to her and took her by the hand;
He vowed he'd send young Johnny unto some foreign land.
But boldly made she answer which did them so annoy:
“It's single I shall always be for my bonny labouring boy.”

“His hair is like the raven's wing, his eyes are black as chit,
His face it is the finest that ever I've seen yet,
He's manly, neat and handsome, his cheeks are like the snow,
And in spite of both my parents with Johnny I will go,
“Oh, my bonny labouring boy.”

The Demon Barbers' Bonny Boy

As I walked out one morning all in the blooming spring,
I heard a lovely maid complain, and sadly did she sing;
Saying, “Cruel were my parents, they did me so annoy,
They would not let me marry with my bonny labouring boy.”

Chorus (after each verse):

𝄆 Bonny boy, bonny boy, bonny boy 𝄇

My father came up to me and he took me by the hand
He swore he'd send young Johnny unto some foreign land.
He locked me in my chamber, my comforts to annoy
And he left me there to weep and mourn my bonny labouring boy.

My mother came up to me and these words to me did say:
“Your father has intended to appoint your wedding day.”
But nothing did I say to her not did I complain
But until I wed my labouring boy single I'll remain.

His cheeks are like the roses, his eyes as black as sloes,
He smiles and he is merry whever my love goes.
He's manly, neat and handsome with his skin as white as snow
But because of my cruel parents with him I cannot go.