> Lal & Mike Waterson > Songs > The Scarecrow

The Scarecrow

[Lal & Mike Waterson]

Mike Waterson sang The Scarecrow, accompanied by Richard Thompson and Martin Carthy on acoustic guitars, in 1972 on Lal & Mike Waterson's famous album of their own songs, Bright Phoebus.

Cover Versions

1. Tony Capstick on his live album Tony Capstick Does a Turn (1978)
2. June Tabor on her album Abyssinians (1983) and compilations Aspects (1990) and The Definitive Collection (2003)
3. The Fatima Mansions on their EP Evil Man (1992)
4. Deb Sandland, Phil Beer and Jem McAuley on the charity album Heart of England (2000)
5. Dick Gaughan on the tribute album Shining Bright - The Songs of Lal & Mike Waterson (2002) and on Dick Gaughan: The Definitive Collection (2006)
6. James Yorkston on his EP Someplace Simple (2003)
7. The Witches of Elswick on their album Out of Bed (2003)

Lyrics

Mike Waterson sings The Scarecrow

As I roved out one summer's morn,
I saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn.
His coat was black and his head was bare,
And as the wind shook him the crows took up into the air.

Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me,
Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me if you could.
For you're only a bag of rags in an overall
That the wind sways so the crows fly away and the corn can grow tall.

As I roved out one winter's day,
I saw an old man hanging from a pole in a field of clay.
His coat was gone and his head hung low,
Till the wind flung it up to look, wrung its neck and let it go.

How could you lay me down and love me?
How could you lay me down and love me now?
For you're only a bag of bones in an overall
That the wind blows and the kids throw stones at the thing on the pole.

As I rode out one fine spring day,
I saw twelve jolly dons dressed out in the blue and the gold so gay.
And to a stake they tied a child newborn,
And the songs were sung, the bells was rung, and they sowed their corn.

Now you can lay me down and love me,
Now you can lay me down and love me if you will.
For you're only a bag of rags in an overall
But the wind blew and the sun shone too and the corn grew tall.

As I roved out one summer's morn,
I saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn.

June Tabors sings The Scarecrow

As I walked out one summer's morn,
Saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn.
His coat was black, and his head was bare,
When the wind shook him the crows took up into the air.

Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me,
Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me if you could.
But you're only a bag of rags in an overall
That the wind sways and the crows fly away and the corn grows tall.

As I walked out one winter's day,
Saw an old man hanging from a pole in a field of clay.
His coat was gone, and his head hung low,
Till the wind flung it up to look, wrung its neck and let it go.

How could you lay me down and love me?
How could you lay me down and love me now?
For you're only a bag of bones in an overall
That the wind blows and the kids throw stones at the thing on the pole.

As I walked out one fine spring day,
Saw twelve jolly dons decked out in the blue and the gold so gay.
And to a stake they tied a child newborn,
Then the bells were rung and the songs were sung and they sowed their corn.

Now you can lay me down and love me,
Now you can lay me down and love me if you will.
But you're only a bag of rags in an overall
But the wind blew and the sun shone too and the corn grew tall.

As I walked out one summer's morn,
Saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn.

The Fatima Mansions sing The Scarecrow

As I walked out one summer's morn,
I saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn.
His coat was black and his head was bare,
When the wind shook him, the crows took up into the air.

Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me,
Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me, if you could.
But you're only a bag of rags in an overall
That the wind sways and the crows fly away and the corn grows tall.

As I walked out one winter's day,
I saw an old man dangling from a pole in a field of clay.
His coat was gone and his head hung low,
Till the wind flung it up to look, wrung its neck and let it go.

How could you lay me down and love me?
How could you lay me down and love me now?
For that you're only a bag of bones in an overall
That the wind blows and the kids throw stones at the thing on the pole.

As I walked out one fine spring day,
I saw twelve jolly dons decked out in the blue and the gold so gay.
And to a stake they tied a child new born,
Then the bells were rung, and the songs were sung, and they sowed their corn.

And now you can lay me down and love me,
Now you can lay me down and love me if you will.
But you're only a bag of rags in an overall
That the wind blew and the sun shone too and the corn grew tall.

As I walked out one summer's morn,
I saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn.