The Tilling Bird

This is either a love song to a fine young girl or a song about a chicken. Perhaps it’s both. I’ll leave it to you to decide. I love the imagery of both interpretations. Either way it’s about a relationship with the land. Chickens were often used to follow the plough and help to turn the soil. The Marsh Daisy is now one of the UK’s rarest breed of chicken.

Come Marsh Daisy come walk with me now, come walk behind me as I pull the plough. Oh such a fine bird, a beauty so rare, tilling the soil Marsh Daisy.

Come Marsh Daisy come stay with me now, show us your rosy stand tall and stand proud. Oh for you’re free to stay here on my land, tilling the soil Marsh Daisy.

Come walk with me now, come walk with me now, come walk with me now, tilling the soil Marsh Daisy.

Come Marsh Daisy come lay for me now, lay in the hay sheds and barns for the cows. Oh in the morning you’ll walk in the fields, tilling the soil Marsh Daisy.

Come Marsh Daisy come rest with me now, curl up beside me and lay down your brow. Oh for the evening will water your work, tilling the soil Marsh Daisy.

Come Marsh Daisy come dine with me now, come share my table all in my fine house. Oh there we shall reap the rewards of your toil, tilling the soil Marsh Daisy.

For you toil o’er the soil, o’er the soil, for you toil o’er the soil Marsh Daisy, come walk with me Marsh Daisy, come walk with me Marsh Daisy.

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