Two Young Brethren

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Come all jolly ploughmen and help me to sing,
I will sing in the praise of you all,
If a man he don't labour how can he get bread?
I will sing and make merry withal.

It was of two young brethren, two young brethren born,
It was of two young brethren born,
One he was a shepherd and a tender of sheep
The other a planter of corn.

We will rile it, we will tile it through mud and through clay,
We will plough it up deeper and low,
Then after comes the seedsman his corn for to sow
And the harrows to rake it in rows.

There is April, there is May, there is June and July
What a pleasure it is for to see the corn grow.
In August we will reap it, we will cut, sheaf and bind it
And go down with our scythes for to mow.

And after we've reaped it off every sheaf
And have gathered up every ear,
With a drop of good beer, boys, and our hearts full of cheer
We will wish them another good year.

Our barns they are full, our fields they are clear,
Good health to our master and friends.
We will make no more to do but we'll plough and we'll sow
And prepare for the very next year.

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Two Young Brethren is sung by young brethren Ben and Tom Copper, and Mark, Andy and Sean Barratt on the Coppersongs3 CD; words and music are in both The Copper Family Song Book, and Bob Copper's book, A Song for Every Season.

Coppersite

New: 8 November 1998 | Now: 8 November 1998 | Transcription by Garry Gillard