The Hedger And Ditcher
Ruth Notman Lyrics
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My mother does nothing but spin
They say I'm a pretty young girl
But the money comes slowly in
Oh dear, what shall become of me
Oh dear, what shall I do
There's nobody coming to marry me
The doggie began to bark
And I looked out to see
I saw two young men out a-hunting
But nobody's hunting for me
Oh, must I die an old maid
Oh dear, how shocking the thought
There's nobody coming to marry me
Surely it's not me own fault
My father's a hedger and ditcher
My mother does nothing but spin
They say I'm a pretty young girl
But the money comes slowly in
In Ruth Notman's song "The Hedger And Ditcher," the singer laments about her predicament of being an attractive young woman with seemingly limited prospects due to her family's socio-economic standing. Her father works as a hedger and ditcher, while her mother is merely a spinner. Although the singer is pretty and desirable, there are no suitors who are willing to marry her, leaving her with a bleak outlook on life.
The song paints a vivid picture of rural life in the countryside, particularly the toils and struggles of working-class families. The singer yearns for a better life, one where she can escape the hand-to-mouth existence that she and her family lead. She is envious of the two young men out hunting, a luxury that is out of reach for her, and she despairs at the thought of being an old maid, resigned to a life of loneliness.
The song is a poignant commentary on class and gender roles, highlighting the limited opportunities available to women, particularly those born into working-class families. It portrays the harsh realities of rural life, where many people are stuck in menial jobs with very little prospect of escape. It is a powerful and moving piece that shines a light on the struggles faced by many rural communities in the past and present.
Line by Line Meaning
My father's a hedger and ditcher
My dad is a worker who creates or maintains hedges and ditches in the fields to protect crops and contain livestock.
My mother does nothing but spin
My mother spends most of her time spinning yarn or thread using a spinning wheel, as it’s the only way to provide additional money.
They say I'm a pretty young girl
People often compliment me as a young and attractive lady.
But the money comes slowly in
But unfortunately, the income earned by my parents is quite minimal, and it takes time to accumulate.
Oh dear, what shall become of me
I'm anxious about what the future holds for me.
Oh dear, what shall I do
I'm not sure what steps to take to resolve my predicament.
There's nobody coming to marry me
There is hardly any interest from a suitor regarding me.
Nobody coming to woo
No one is trying to seek my affections or make me fall in love.
The doggie began to bark
Suddenly, the dog started barking loudly, which caught my attention.
And I looked out to see
So, I went to look out the window to see what the commotion was about.
I saw two young men out a-hunting
I saw two guys who seemed to be out hunting in the nearby fields.
But nobody's hunting for me
It's ironic that even the hunters roaming nearby aren't interested in pursuing a relationship with me.
Oh, must I die an old maid
Am I destined to remain unmarried forever and lead a lonely life, even when I grow old?
Oh dear, how shocking the thought
The idea of growing old alone is quite distressing and unsettling.
Surely it's not me own fault
I hope I'm not responsible for this situation, which is beyond my control.
My father's a hedger and ditcher
Again, I reiterate that my dad's profession is limited to working on the fields, which doesn't pay as much.
My mother does nothing but spin
My mom's contribution to the household's income is also scarce and confined to spinning wool.
They say I'm a pretty young girl
Despite my good looks, my prospects of finding a suitable partner and leading a happy life remain bleak.
But the money comes slowly in
Unfortunately, the lack of substantial income in my family compounds my difficulties.
Contributed by Oliver R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.