The Lucky Farmer?s Boy

The sun had set behind the hill,
Across yon dreary moor,
When weary and lame, a boy there came
Up to a farmer?s door;
Can you tell me, said he, if any there be,
That will be employ,
For to plough and sow, and reap and mow,
And?be a Farmer?s Boy.

My father is dead, and my mother is left,
With five children, great and small,
And what is worse for my mother still,
I?m the biggest of them all;
But tho? little I?d work hard as a Turk,
If I could get employ,
For to plough and sow, and reap and mow,
And be a Farmer?s boy.

And if that you no boy de want,
One favour I have to ask,
You will shelter me ?till break of day,
And from this night?s cold blast;
At break of day I?ll trudge away,
Elsewhere to seek employ,
For to plough and sow, and reap and mow,
And be a Farmer?s Boy.

The farmer?s wife cry?d try the lad
Let him no further seek,
Yes do, dear father, the daughter cry?d,
While tears ran down her cheeks;
For those that work, ?tis hard to want,
And wander for employ-
Don? turn him away, but let him stay,
And be a Farmer?s Boy.

When the Farmer?s Boy he grew a man,
The good old farmer died,
And left the farm he has,
With his daughter for his bride.
Now the boy that was, and farmer is,
Cft thinks and smiles with joy,
Of the lucky day he came that way,
For to be a Farmer?s Boy.