Old Threshing Song
It's all very well to have a machine
To thrash your wheat and barley clean,
To thrash it and wim it all fit for sale,
Then go off to market so brisk and well,
Singing rumble-dum-dairy flare up Mary
And make her old table shine.The man who made her he made her so well,
He made every cog and wheel to tell.
While the big wheel runs the little one hums,
And the feeder he sits above the drum,
Singing rumble-dum-dairy flare up Mary
And make her old table shine.There's old Father Howard the sheaves to put,
While old Mother Howard she does make up.
And Mary she sits and feeds all day,
While Johnny he carries the straw away,
Singing rumble-dum-dairy flare up Mary
And make her old table shine.At seven o'clock we do begin
And we generally stop about nine or ten
To have our beer and oil her up,
Then away we go till one o'clock,
Singing rumble-dum-dairy flare up Mary
And make her old table shine.Then after a bite and a drink all round
The driver he climbs to his box again
And with his long whip he shouts, All right,
And he drives 'em round till five at night,
Singing rumble-dum-dairy flare up Mary
And make her old table shine.
It is unusual to find a song in praise of the threshing machine as its introduction circa late 1830s threatened the employment of the old flail threshers. Even in Sussex a violent gang of protesters under the supervision of one Captain Swing cut a swathe of destruction across the Weald burning ricks and smashing machinery.
Old Threshing Song words and music are in The Copper Family Song Book, and in Bob Copper's book, A Song for Every Season.
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New: 21 December 2000 | Now: 21 December 2000 | Garry Gillard