This is a stunning song in my opinion. It was collected along with many, many other songs from an eminent member of the travelling community, Caroline Hughes, known to her family and friends as Queen Caroline Hughes. Mrs Hughes was born in a wooden, horse drawn caravan in 1900 and learned her songs mainly from her mother who sang to her children constantly. In 1962 and 1966 Mrs Hughes was recorded by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger and in 1968 Peter Kennedy made further recordings, preserving her extensive repertoire for posterity. Queen Caroline died in 1971. I feel that modern day folkies often do not afford sufficient respect and appreciation to those people who, like Queen Caroline Hughes, preserved our heritage and passed it on, so I always try and give a mention to them when singing their songs or playing their tunes.
The song tells the story of a young shepherd who’s girl friend has gone into service in the Big House. She soon feels that, having led a ‘contrary’ (i.e. different) life she has become too sophisticated to be a shepherds wife, so our shepherd gets the elbow. He is so heartbroken that he wants to give away all the trappings of his profession, his sheep crook, his dog, his bag (lunch bag) and his budget (purse), no doubt because these are the very things which caused him to lose his love.
I especially love the magnificent tune of this song which is, I understand, in the Dorian mode. I find such tunes challenging to sing but so much more interesting and impressive than countless modern tunes based around the old three chord trick.
The song tells the story of a young shepherd who’s girl friend has gone into service in the Big House. She soon feels that, having led a ‘contrary’ (i.e. different) life she has become too sophisticated to be a shepherds wife, so our shepherd gets the elbow. He is so heartbroken that he wants to give away all the trappings of his profession, his sheep crook, his dog, his bag (lunch bag) and his budget (purse), no doubt because these are the very things which caused him to lose his love.
I especially love the magnificent tune of this song which is, I understand, in the Dorian mode. I find such tunes challenging to sing but so much more interesting and impressive than countless modern tunes based around the old three chord trick.