Unknown - Two Brethren Lyrics

TWO BRETHREN

Come all jolly ploughmen and help me to sing
I will sing in the praise of you all
If a man he don't labor, how can he get bread?
I will sing and make merry withal

It was of two young brethren, two young brethren born
It was of two young brethren born
One he was a shepherd and a tender of sheep
The other a planter of corn

We will rile it, we will toil it through mud and through clay
We will plough it up deeper and low
Then after comes the seedsman, his corn for to sow
And the harrows to rake it in rows

There is April, there is May, there is June and july
What a pleasure it is for to see the corn grow
In August we will reap it, we will cut, sheathe and bind it
And go down with our scythes for to mow

And after we have reaped it of every sheaf
And gathered up every ear
With a drop of good beer, boys, and our hearts full of cheer
We will wish them another good year

Our barns they are full, our fields they are cleared
Good health to our master and friends
We will make no more to do, but we will plough and we'll sow
And provide for the very next year