The Somerset Ploughman

Refrain:
He was the last of an ancient dynasty
to work with team and plough,
A Master at hand with the horse and the land,
He's in greener pastures now.


Herbie Ogbourne his name who a legend became
Earned his fee in the fields all day
From Redhill to Wrington,
From Lulsgate to Lye
working in the Somerset way.

His Grandfather John earned the praise of the King -
A Master craftsman recognised
For ploughing a furrow so perfectly formed
Underneath a clear blue sky.


From morn 'til night he would follow behind
Ploughing rows straight and true
Turning fields of green into furrows of brown
And changed the landscapes hue.

The majesty of the heavy horse!
A sturdy and a well feathered shire.
In winter would sow and in summer would mow
To the headland from the byre.


The brass hangs proud on the old parlour wall
With trophies and photographs too.
Though the horses and harness are all long gone
Their ghosts never fade from view.

Now time's moved on and the ploughing is done
By tractor, where his shires once roamed.
He rests at last, his day has passed
And he's found his harvest home.