Contented Countryman, The

DESCRIPTION: "Who would like a jovial count-e-rie life? Happy am I with my home and wife." The singer describes how his life "just suits me": They call him poor, but he has the larks and the clear sky and a loving wife. He would not "change for a crown-ed king."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1900 (broadside, Bodleian Firth c.26(85))
KEYWORDS: home work farming nonballad
FOUND IN: Britain(England(Lond,South))
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Kennedy-FolksongsOfBritainAndIreland 245, "The Contented Countryman" (1 text, 1 tune)
Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 490, "Out With My Gun in the Morning" (1 text)
Roud #1847
RECORDINGS:
Jimmy Knights, "Out With My Gun in the Morning" (on Voice18)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Firth c.26(85), "Out With My Gun in the Morning" ("I live a jovial country life"), T. Pearson (Manchester), 1850-1899; also 2806 c.16(112), "Out With My Gun in the Morning"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Brisk and Bonny Lass (The Brisk and Bonny Lad)" (theme)
cf. "Country Life" (theme)
NOTES [39 words]: Kennedy-FolksongsOfBritainAndIreland lists several other collections of what he says are this song -- but given the generic nature of this song and Kennedy's willingness to lump, I can't bring myself to trust him without seeing them. - RbW
Last updated in version 2.6
File: K245

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