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The Jolly Waggoners

[ Roud 1088 ; Ballad Index K230 ; trad.]

The Watersons sang The Jolly Waggoner in 1966 on their second album The Watersons. Like all but one tracks from this LP, it was re-released in 1994 on the CD Early Days. It was also published on the Topic Sampler No. 6, A Collection of Ballads & Broadsides, and in 2004 on the Watersons' 4CD anthology Mighty River of Song. Note that the anthology's sleeve notes claim that the track is from from the soundtrack of the Travelling for a Living BBC TV documentary of 1966, which does not have Mike playing guitar on it. However, as Travelling for a Living is included in this box set on a bonus DVD, there is no harm done. Thanks to Bob Hudson for pointing this out.

A.L. Lloyd commented in the original album's sleeve notes:

In the old days, a man might die in the house he had been born in without ever having travelled above five miles away from it. The main means of communication in static, rural communities were potholed and treacherous roads and the waggoners who travelled them bearing goods, mail and gossip were important people. The dangers and hardship of their open-air life added a romantic flourish to the attraction of their roving trade and the charm of their freedom of movement.

This is a very well-known song. Kidson found it in Yorkshire, Alfred Williams called it “a great favourite” in the Upper Thames area, grandfathers and great uncles all over Britain will probably recognise the tune even if they don't remember the words. It was sung wherever waggoners went.

Ralph Vaughan Williams collected The Jolly Waggoner from Mr Rose, landlord of Bridge Inn, Acle Norfolk on 14.4.1908 (MS I 32(2)). This version was printed in Roy Palmer, Everyman's Book of English Country Songs, ISBN 0-460-12048-1 and is also shown on folkinfo.org.

Other versions:

See also the song's Wikipedia entry.

Lyrics

The Watersons sing The Jolly Waggoner

When first I went a-waggoning, a-waggoning did go
Well, it filled my poor old parents' hearts with sorrow, grief, and woe
And many are the hardships that since I've undergone.

Chorus (after each verse):
Sing whoa my lads, sing whoa, drive on my lads, drive on
Who wouldn't be for all the world a jolly waggoner.

When it's pelting down with rain, my lads, I get wetted to the skin
But I bear it with contented heart until I reach the inn
And I sit down a-drinking with the landlord and his kin.

Well, things is greatly altered now and waggons few are seen
The world's turned topsy-turvy, lads, and things is run by steam
And the whole world passes before me just like a morning dream.

Aye, things is greatly altered now but then what can us do
The olks in power all take no heed to the likes of me and you
It's hardship for us workmen, lads, and a fortune for the few.

Well, Martinmas is coming, lads, what pleasures we shall see
Like chaff before the wind, my lads, we'll make our money flee
And every lad shall take his lass and he'll have her on his knee.

Walter Pardon sings The Jolly Waggoner

When first I went a-waggoning, a-wagging did go
I filled my parents hearts with grief, with sorrow, care and woe
And many are the hardships that I have since gone through

Chorus (after each verse):
Sing woah, sing woah, drive on, my lads, hi ho
Who wouldn't lead a life like we jolly waggoners do?

Now winter is a-coming on, much hardship it will bring
We'll jog along our weary way until we reach the inn
We'll sit down by the old inn fire with landlord and his kin

Now springtime is a-coming on, how pleasant it will be
The songbirds sing so loud and clear from every greenwood tree
And every lad will take a lass and jog her on his knee

Now summer is a coming on, we'll pleasure also find
We'll make the gold to fly, my boys, like chaff before the wind
And then return back home again to wife and children kind

Acknowledgements

Transcribed by Garry Gillard. Corrections following discussion in a Mudcat Café link.