Where the lambs they skip with pleasure

From Eyton Boulden

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bonnington, 17^th June 1942.

Francis Collinson Manuscript Collection COL/2/16, COL/2/15B

Roud 18820

The neatly written out copy in Francis Collinson’s collection does not appear to be in Collinson’s handwriting, and was quite possibly written out by Eyton Boulding in preparation for the recording of the BBC radio programme Country Magazine which was broadcast on 28^th June 1942. It is headed “Chas Boulding’s song” – referring to Eyton’s “Uncle Cholly”, Charles Boulding.

It is unclear why, in that copy, the song is titled ‘Where de Lambs Dey Skip Wid Pleasure’. This kind of substitution of ‘d’ for ‘th’ was often associated with blackface minstrelsy. But in this case it seems more likely that it is an attempt to reproduce the old Kentish dialect, where the same substitution of letters took place – see A dictionary of the Kentish dialect and provincialisms in use in the County of Kent (1888) page vi.

No singer or location is given for this song in the VWML archive catalogue. However the sheet in Collinson’s MS is headed “Pinn Farm, Bonnington, Nr. Ashford”, which was the residence of Eyton Boulding. And it is dated 17^th June 1942, which is the same date given in the catalogue for ‘Where de Lambs Dey Skip Wid Pleasure’ (COL/2/16).

A version of the song was included in the Kent-themed episode 5 of BBC Home Service programme Country Magazine, broadcast at 13:15 on Sunday 28^th June 1942. The song was sung by baritone Frederick Woodhouse, with music arranged by Francis Collinson, who may have been responsible for the rewritten words.

1. At the foot of yonder mountain where the river runs so clear
   I have orchards, fair green meadows, and good hops for Kentish beer
   There’s fine arching, fine poaching and there’s music everywhere
   At the foot of yonder mountain, where the river runs so clear.
   
2. If little Mary had been constant then she might have been my bride.
   But her mind it was more fickle than the rain upon the tide,
   So I took me another for to wed and give me cheer,
   At the foot of yonder mountain, where the river runs so clear.
   
3. As I walk about my meadows, as I labour in my fields,
   When I view the bounteous increase that our toil and patience yields,
   I do know I’ve been faithful to the land I hold so dear
   At the foot of yonder mountain. where the river runs so clear.

(Source: Maidstone Telegraph, 24^th July 1942)