The Farmer at North Bend.

110

Song performed by: Chad Sheridan, Jason Schreiber (vocals) and Tara Dirst (banjo). Recording engineer: Matt Dotson.

Tune -- "Auld Lang Syne."

CAN grateful freemen slight his claims,
Who bravely did defend
Their lives and fortunes on the Thames,
The farmer of North Bend?
The farmer of North Bend, my boys,
The farmer of North Bend,
We'll give a right good hearty vote
To the farmer of North Bend.

The trump of Fame in storied song
The patriots deeds shall tell,
And freedom's voice the strain prolong,
The gladsome chorus swell.
The gladsome chorus swell, my boys,
The gladsome chorus swell,
We'll join to night in merry song,
The gladsome chorus swell.

The chieftain heard the stirring drum,
And bent his soldier's bow,
But victor soon -- he hasted home,
His farming fields to mow.
His farming fields to mow, my boys,
His farming field to mow,
Exchanged the sabre for the scythe,
His farming fields to mow.

Though youthful valour bravely won
The laurel to his brow,
Yet victory's own triumphant son
Now holds the yeoman's plough,
Now hold the yeoman's plough, my boys,
Now hold the yeoman's plough,
And soon we'll try his trusty hand
To hold the Nation's plough.

111

+Now hear the note, his country's call,
From the hilltops and the shores,
It comes from camp, and cot, and hall,
And the valleys o'er.
And all the valleys o'er, my boys,
And all the valleys o'er,
It calls him to the rescue, boys,
From all the valleys o'er.

The hero, who long years ago,
Once wore the warrior's mail,
Now comes to beat the yeoman's foe,
A farmer with his flail.
A farmer with his fail, my boys,
A farmer with his fail,
And they'll get a right gude threshing yet
From the farmer with his flail.

Then cheer we up, my boys, to-night,
A helping hand we lend.
And pledge the old Bay State to-night,
To the farmer of North Bend.
To the farmer of North Bend, my boys,
To the farmer of North Bend,
We'll pledge the old Bay State to-night,
To the farmer of North Bend