Farmer (Varmer) Giles

AKA I come from the country
Old Farmer Giles
Journey up to London, The
First Published 1902
Writer/composer Gilbert Wells / TF Robson Roud RN1744

Music Hall Performers George Bastow
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Butcher, W. 1905 England : Sussex
Burgess, Harry 1957 – 60 England : Sussex
Holman, Harry 1960 England : Sussex
Phillips, Cyril 1961 England : Sussex
Webb, Mrs. Walter 1962 Canada : Ontario
Pritchett, Howard 1962 England : Gloucestershire
Redford, Jack 1967 England : Lincolnshire
Lane, Arthur 1968 England : Shropshire
Farley, Steve 1968 England : Surrey
Milam, Charlie 1970 England : Hampshire
Gates, Arthur 1972 England
Upton, Harry 1977 England : Sussex
Adams, Harry 1977 England : Somerset
Boucher, George 1978 England : Gloucestershire
Hart, Bob 1975-1978 England : Suffolk
Payne, Ernie 1979 England : Avon
Ling, Ruby 1975-80 England : Suffolk
Bridger, Charlie 1983 England : Kent
Fradley, George 1984 England : Derbyshire
Arnold, Bob 1993 England : Oxfordshire
Gardner, David 1997 England : Gloucestershire
Horner, C.V. 1960s/70s England : Yorkshire
Agar, Mr. 1960s/70s? England : Yorkshire
Modern performances
Bob Lewis

As sung by David Gardner
I'm up from the country my name it is Giles,
I've travelled a hundred and fifty odd miles.
Now for a soft sort of country chap I have been took,
But I tell you I ain't such a fool as I look.

With a too ra li oo ra li oo ra li ay,
To see all the sights I've come such a long way,
It cost me the best part of two shillings a day.
Just a too ra li oo ra li oo ra li ay.

.We came up to London, the journey was fine
 On the Bristol to Paddington Gurt Western line;
 Now of snails and tor-toises I’ve heard lots of talk,
 But if I’m in a hurry to get whome I’ll walk.

 Too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay,
 ’Cos it took I all night and best part of next day ;
 Now as I rubbed my wish-bone, and all I could say ,
 Was too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay.

 Now we went to Westminster and zed [see’d] Parliament ,
 And a very enjoyable time there I spent.
 There was plenty to laugh at and much to admire,
 One gentleman he called the t’other a liar.

 With a too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay,
 I s’pose that’s what they call the up-to-date way,
 For though they didn’t do much they’d plenty to zay,
 Just too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay.

 Now we zed [see’d] Nelson’s Column that day from The Strand,
 A chap standin’ by I said isn’t that grand;
 I said "I can byet [beat] that, I pardons, I begs,"
 "Down on our farm there’s a peg wi’ five legs".

 With a too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay,
 "I byet ’e [thee] that time, mister, what coust [couldst] ’e say?
 For thee casn’t get five hams off a pig every day,"
 Wi’ a too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay.

 Now the Angels of Islington I’ve never seen,
 I took a bus up to Islington Green.
 Tho’ I sed ["see’d"] scores and scores of them dainty young things,
 They all wore fine feathers but not one had wings .

 Too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay,
 They all called for drinks and then axed["asked"] I to pay,
 I said "if you’m [you’re] Angels, go off, fly away",
 With a too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay.
 
Now the War Office blunder makes everyone gape,
 They tell I ’tis all on account of red tape;
 But when a yeoman goes fighting, I’ll make bold to say
 That the least wi’ can do is to gi’ em some pay.

 Singin’ too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay,
 Just give I a chance with me sheep shears I say,
 And damn ’em I’ll cut all their red tape away,
 Singin’ too-ra-li oo-ra-li oo-ra-li ay 

An early 20th century Music Hall number, still widely sung in the pubs all over England a hundred years later. The song has been particularly popular, and has been collected from most parts of the English-speaking world. I many of the other early 20th century songs, it’s not widely printed in street literature. Not surprising, as in most parts of the world broadsides and songsters were no longer being produced in the same way. It’s another one of those songs designed for extemporisation – changing the verses to suit a particular audience…

In the Halls this song is most closely associated with the singing of George Bastow  (1871-1914). He specialised in dressing as a “yokel” and singing songs which made fun of rural folk – his “Farmer Giles” numbers. Several have passed into the folk tradition, including She’s Proud and she’s Beautiful, Wire in My Lads, and Mary Ann She’s after Me. He also sang songs which satirised the officer class like The Galloping Major and Captain Gingah, apparently whilst galloping around the stage on a wooden horse.

I have been unable to access the original sheet music at this time. The words above are those that were sung by David Gardner, as found on the Glostrad website. There are a number of variants, and the excellent MainlyNorfolk site discusses some more recent recordings of the song.

George Bastow sings a short version:

Sources: