2829. The Thrashing Machine (Traditional English)

One of many songs to the tune of "Villikins and his Dinah." A thrashing machine was a rural grinding apparatus activated by a tethered horse, often named Dobbin, forced to walk around in circles. The song is full of the sexual innuendos much loved by the repressed Victorians and Edwardians.
Lyrics and chords:
..... D ............... A7 ............... D
It's of a young farmer near Somerset, 'tis said,
........................ G .............. A7
And he had a servant, a blooming young maid.
........ D ................ A7..................... G ............. D
Her name it was Molly; though scarcely sixteen,
................................... A7............... D
She could work very well at the thrashing machine.
Her master said, "Molly, the times they are hard.
If you will go with me into the farm yard,
I will harness young Dobbin - you know what I mean -
I think we can manage the thrashing machine."
Young Molly said, "Master, what will mistress say?"
Said he, "Never mind; she is making the hay,
And while she is spreading the grass that is green,
Why, we can be working the thrashing machine."
The barn door was open. Stood Dobbin outside.
The farmer got in the machine for to ride.
Young Molly said, "Master, you thrash very clean.
I see you can manage the thrashing machine."
Now Dobbin was tired of going around.
He hung in the traces and bowed to the ground.
Though once in good order, he was now thin and lean
Through working so hard at the thrashing machine.
The farmer got out and around him he feels.
Says he, "I must rest," so he blocked up the wheels.
Young Molly led Dobbin so sprightly and keen,
And he pushed again at the thrashing machine.
Young Molly said, "Master, you've had a great loss.
I think you require a much stronger horse.
If Dobbin was strong, as before he has been,
We then could keep working the thrashing machine."
When six months was over, mark ye what befell:
Young Molly's front parlour began for to swell,
And very soon after she had, to be seen,
For the fruits of her labour, a young thrashing machine.
You can watch a playlist of my bawdy songs here: ruclips.net/user/view_play_lis...
Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found here: raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com

[@CrawfishParish]

Really a good one.

[@raymondcrooke]

Thank you, Michael.

[@CountryFolkAndMore]

Very nice, Raymond. Thank you for the background Information.

[@raymondcrooke]

You're welcome, Wolfgang. Thanks for listening.

[@michaelhermiston]

i'm laughing uproariously... such a great genre of songwriting.. i might have to put some effort into using such a metaphorical style in my songwriting... really brilliant tune... thanks again Raymond... impressed that you could keep a straight face in singing... ha ha ha

[@raymondcrooke]

It's a very common technique in English humorous ballads, especially in collections like "Pills to Purge Melancholy."

[@NickKouls]

Awesome song !!

[@raymondcrooke]

Thank you for listening.

[@JennyDaniels]

Super performance Raymond :)

[@raymondcrooke]

Thank you, Jenny.

[@davidphotos1]

Can I ask, do you have the chords to this song. We wished to sing it years ago when in the Young Farmers. I’ve just started learning guitar so would be good to learn this one.

[@raymondcrooke]

There is a link to the chords in the information panel under the video.

[@davidphotos1]

@@raymondcrooke ah yes, thanks Raymond much appreciated.
The version we sang had the;, I had her, I had her I had her eye yea etc etc, bit in the chorus. I will try and work out the chords for that bit.

[@willardlosingersmusicchann569]

Not "threshing" machine?

[@raymondcrooke]

I would have thought so, but it could probably be spelt either way in those days.

[@Kasarii]

Looking it up, it seems thrashing was an acceptable spelling in centuries past.