Cowsong
Kate Rusby Lyrics

There was a farm on yonder hill, up where the wind it blows-o
There was a farm situated on top of a hill where the wind blows.

There lived a mother and her son and their bonnie old brown cow-o.
The farm was occupied by a mother, a son and their beautiful old brown cow.

This cow was a bonnie cow but they needed money most-o
Although the cow was beautiful, they were in dire need of money.

So she said, "Please take the cow, to market you must go-o."
The mother requested her son to take the cow to the market.

So he's walked along the way, he's walked but half the day-o
The son walked for half a day along the way to the market.

And there he's spied a fair young maid, she says, "where are you bound-o?"
He found a beautiful young woman on his way and she asked where he was headed.

I'll take this cow along the way Then I will, sell her On market day.
He planned to take the cow along the way and sell it on the market day.

"You see this bonnie cow of mine? I'm taking her to market-o
He showed the cow to the young woman and informed her that he was taking it to the market.

Then I'll return to my mother dear with money in my hand-o."
After selling the cow, he intended to return to his mother with the money.

So she's took this young man's arm, she says, "You handsome sir-o,
The young woman grabbed his arm and called him handsome.

Come sit you down in the soft green grass, come rest awhile with me-o.
She invited him to sit on the soft green grass and rest with her.

" She's kissed him long, she's kissed him strong, a fair game she did play-o,
She kissed him passionately for a long time, and it was a game for her.

And after playing not so hard, this young man he gave way-o.
He gave in easily after the game played by the young woman was not too difficult.

"When this young man he awoke both girl and cow were gone-o
When he woke up, both the young woman and the cow were nowhere to be found.

Gone also were the shoes he wore and the trousers he had on-o.
His shoes and trousers were also missing.

Come all you young men near and far, never heed a maiden's calling,
Young men everywhere should not be easily swayed by a maiden's call.

Never trust a girl with your mother's cow, never let your trousers go
Men should never trust a girl with their mother's cow or let them take off their trousers.

Falling downIn the green grass,
This line is a repetition of the previous line for emphasis.

Falling down In the green grass
This line is a repetition of the previous line for emphasis.