Ground for the Floor (I)

DESCRIPTION: At day's end, the singer (a shepherd) makes his way home, where he sits content. He praises the cottage, though he has "nothing but ground for my floor." He sleeps well, rising cheerfully to his work and playing his pipe; he has no high ambitions
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1813 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(2066))
KEYWORDS: home farming work music nonballad sheep shepherd worker
FOUND IN: Britain(England(Lond,South))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Gardham-EarliestVersions, "GROUND FOR THE FLOOR"
Williams-FolkSongsOfTheUpperThames, p. 153, "Ground for the Floor" (1 text) (also Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 423)
Kennedy-FolksongsOfBritainAndIreland 250, "Ground for the Floor" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1269
RECORDINGS:
George Maynard, "The Sun Being Set" (on Maynard1); "Ground for the Floor" (on Voice20)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(2066), "Ground for the Floor ("I lived in a wood for a number of years"), J. Evans (London), 1780-1812; also Harding B 11(3659), Harding B 11(3660), Harding B 16(108b), Harding B 11(1438), Harding B 11(1439), Harding B 11(1437), Firth c.19(212), Harding B 11(321), Harding B 25(781), "Ground for the Floor"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Ground for the Floor (II)" (subject)
File: RcGftF

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