John Clare - The Crow Sat On The Willow lyrics

The crow sat on the willow tree A-lifting up his wings And glossy was his coat to see And loud the ploughman sings "I love my love because I know The milkmaid she loves me" And hoarsely croaked the glossy crow Upon the willow tree "I love my love" the ploughman sung And all the fields with music rung "I love my love, a bonny la** She keeps her pails so bright And blythe she trips the dewy gra** At morning and at night A cotton dress her morning gown Her face was rosy health She traced the pastures up and down And nature was her wealth." He sung, and turned each furrow down His sweetheart's love in cotton gown "My love is young and handsome As any in the town She's worth a ploughman's ransom In the drab cotton gown." He sang and turned his furrow oer And urged his team along While on the willow as before The old crow croaked his song The ploughman sung his rustic lay And sung of Phoebe all the day The crow he was in love no doubt And [so were] many things The ploughman finished many a bout And lustily he sings "My love she is a milking maid With red rosy cheek Of cotton drab her gown was made, I loved her many a week." His milking maid the ploughman sung Till all the fields around him rung.