(Laet ons den landtman loven)

Praise to the farmer

Come sing the joyous praises of the man who works the land
For he surpasses all by his loyal virtue.
The daily food, the tables of mansions, castles and cities
Are supplied by the sweat-soaked limbs of the noble farmer -
The one all have to live on*.

Dukes, princes, earls - if they wish to be provided for
The farmer has to slave: it is right that we should praise him.
When lords triumph or a pleasant break has to be taken from work
You see him labouring on, the good noble farmer,
The one all have to live on.

The clergy assail him with their tithes
The church officials gaze greedily at his eggs, sheaves or money,
Nuns and other beguines**, each of them greets him because they want something from him
And so the noble farmer gives of his goods,
The one all have to live on.

The hunters and the soldiers wish to find favour in his eyes
Since they have freed him from plotters and criminals.
The miller working at the mill
Digs deep into the flour - God knows how much! - belonging to the good noble farmer,
The one all have to live on.

* The farmer is the one who feeds them all
** Beguines: In the Middle Ages (12th century), groups of pious women more or less attached to a convent or monastery and later linked to individual parishes, who undertook charitable work. They came into existence because there was a surplus of unmarried women (the men had gone off to fight the Crusades) and the houses of the religious orders were full.

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(Hier komt onze fiere pinksterblom)

Here comes our proud Whitsun* flower**

Here comes our proud Whitsun flower
Who shall not be returning for another full year.
Her little feet step forth, she was in cheerful spirits
And wore a wreath all around her head.

She held her father's staff in her hand
And rode with it to the Orient.
The Orient was just behind the door
And there stood three oh-so-pretty maids.

The first was pure and the second was small
And the third poured me a glass of cool wine.
Isn't she just a proud Whitsun flower?
And she shall not be returning for another full year.

And when that long year had reached its end
Pretty Anneke had to take to her birthing bed.
Isn't she just a proud Whitsun flower?
And her name is Pretty Anneke.

* Whitsun (in Dutch: Pinksteren) is a Christian feast celebrated 50 days after Easter, the date of both feasts being variable. This was the period of the year, varying between 25th March and 12th June, when pre-Christian peoples held their fertility rites. The Christian church never succeeded in banning these rites completely. One such rite described in this song is designed to bring about human fertility - the birth of children.
** The "Whitsun flower" is both a real flower (Cardamine pratensis) that blooms briefly in this period and, symbolically in this song, a young virgin who is paraded through the village to ensure human fertility.

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(Hansje knecht)

Farmhand Hans

Hansje, a farmer's son, is fed up with being a farmhand so he goes down to the harbour and signs on although the captain can see that he's not really a sailor. During the very first storm Hansje gets seasick and wishes he'd stayed at home.

Hansje, the farmhand, what do you want to do?
Do you want to earn the same for the rest of your life?
Do you want to toil your whole life through?
I'll give you new shoes,
and leave the farmer to his plough.

Hansje swore a solemn oath:
"Though it should grieve my mother and father,
I'll leave the ploughing.
I'll go off to sea
On the Lord's broad waters."

When Hansje came to the harbour
He went and stood before a captain.
He said: "Captain, my good man,
Will you take me on as a sailor
To learn the art of seamanship?"

"I'd be pleased to take you on as a sailor,
But can you stand your ground as a seaman?
Can you stand up straight on board ship?
For I hear from your manner of speech
That you come from farming stock."

Hansje swore a solemn oath:
"No other man is as ready as I
For all the tasks of seamanship.
I am as strong in my actions
As a wild dragon."

When Hansje the farmhand went to sea
He stood there like a lost deer.
He could not say another word.
He thought here and he thought there
That his heart was about to break.

He stuck his head out overboard
And for hours uttered no word.
But he thought, as he stood there:
"O, if only I had my hand on the plough
And I was standing on solid ground."

---

(Sa boer, gaet naer den dans)

So, farmer, get off to the dance!

So, farmer, sit on your chair! (2x)
Sit on your fairground chair,
Fairground, fair-r-r-ground, fairground chair,
Sit on your chair!

So, farmer, now choose your woman! (2x)
Now choose your fairground woman.
Fairground, fair-r-r-ground, fairground woman,
Chose your fairground woman!

So, farmer, now dance with your woman! (2x)
Now dance with your fairground woman.
Fairground, fair-r-r-ground, fairground woman,
Dance with your fairground woman!

So, farmer, now leave the dance floor! (2x)
Leave the fairground dance floor,
Fairground, fair-r-r-ground, fairground dance floor
Leave the fairground dance floor!!

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(Luy lecker landt)

The Land of Cockaigne*

Nobody can get there
Nor taste the pleasures
Of the Land of Cockaigne
Unless he has the teeth for it**.
(Repeat)

Because first of all, in Hungary,
He has to eat his way through a mountain of buckwheat porridge
With some considerable violence.
Having done this he'll get to a field
Where soon he will be able to enjoy the super-abundance.
(Repeat)

Roasted capons are perched on ropes
plaited from coarse and fine sausages.
(Repeat)

The pigs, well fattened,
Thrushes and long-beaked snipe,
Are all walking about,
Cooked just as everyone likes them.

And even while the sun shines bright
It rains Rhenish wine.
(Repeat)

*The Land of Cockaigne is a mythical place, where none of the harshness of mediaeval peasant life exists.
** You must have your fork with you

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(Boerinneke van buiten)

Farmer's wife from outside the village

A somewhat free musical interpretation of an originally Flemish children's song (probably) referring to the saying: "What the countryman doesn't know he doesn't eat". For the accompaniment we use a typical 'peasant instrument': the dulcimer, known in many variants and under different names.
The lyrics consist of a conversation at the market. A fish vendor names all kinds of fish but the woman keeps on saying that she won't eat it because it's unfamiliar.

Farmer's wife from outside the village,
Do you not buy any fish?

Bah! no my sweet little sister
I don't know what it is.

It's herring, it's eel,
It's fresh codfish-fish-fish
It's herring, it's eel,
It's fresh codfish!

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(De Bedelaer / Den krepelaer ging uit wandelen)

The beggar / the crippled man went for a walk*

Here we have combined De Bedelaer (the beggar), a traditional dance melody from the Hollantse Boerenlieties book, with a traditional Flemish children's song called Den krepelaer ging uit wandelen (The cripple went for a walk).

The cripple went for a walk
and took Ballotje with him,
He bought a pound of almonds
and shared it with Ballotje,
Ballotje of the Bale*,
Ballotje of the Schale*,
Ballotje of the town,
Bombard dee
and she loeg with it.

* The meaning of the words Bale, Schale and loeg, are not clear. The expression Bombard dee probably is - or has become - a piece of nonsense to fit the rhyme.

---

(Des hadde een Swave een dochterlijn)

A Schwabian had a daughter
(ballad)

The big city has always attracted country folk. Elsselijn, daughter of a rich man from southwest Germany left for the big city of Tausborch (Augsburg?) to enjoy herself. Sitting in an inn she was spotted by a group of men who gave her wine and started to gamble, with her as the prize. The youngest man won her. Later her brothers came to fetch her back. When they found her, they asked: "How come your skirt is shorter at the front than at the back?" In other words: Who made you pregnant?

A Schwabian had a daughter
Who no longer wished to serve.
She wanted a dress and a coat
And a pair of shoes with narrow straps.
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

Do you want a dress and a coat
And two shoes with narrow straps?
Well then, go to the town of Tausborch
And serve the great gentlemen.
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

When she reached Tausborch
With all its narrow streets,
She asked for the best wine
Where soldiers and farmers were sitting.
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

When she came into the inn
She was given a drink
And took a look around her
Then she emptied her glass.
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

They took the dice in their hands
And started to play.
The one with the highest score
Would sleep with the beautiful woman.
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

Then the youngest of the three
Threw the highest possible score.
"Oh, little Else" he said, "my sweet love,
You have been allotted to me"
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

He took Elsselijn by the hand,
By her snow-white hands;
He laid her down where he found a bed.
At the end of the green forest.*
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

But when she walked into the street
Her brother recognised her.
The first woman he saw
Was his dear sister.
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

"Oh sister", he said, "oh sister
How did your journey go?
For your skirt is shorter at the front
And much too long at the back?"
Yes, how beautiful is my Elsselijn.

* A commentator writing on this song says that this line is a foreign element that has entered the song from another composition.

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(Van waer compt ons den coelen wijn?)

where does the cool wine come to us from?*

A lesson in economics: all the links in the production process are mentioned and eventually we hear that it is the farmer whose products generate the money to buy the wine.

Where does the cool wine come to us from?
It comes from Cologne on the Rhine.

How does that girl come by the wine?
The girl buys the wine with money.

How does the girl come by the money?
The woman (wife)* gives the girl the money.

How does the woman (wife) come by the money?
The man (husband)* gives the woman (wife) the money.

How does the man (husband) come by the money?
The farmer gives the man (husband) the money.

How does the farmer come by the money?
The farmer sows and harvests the land
And that is how he comes by the money.

And the land and the farmer
And the farmer and the money
And the money and the man
And the money and the woman
And the money and the girl
And the girl and the wine, from Cologne on the Rhine
And from there comes the cool wine to us.

* The Dutch word "vrouw" can mean both "woman" and "wife". And "man" can mean either "man" or "husband"

This is a cumulative song: it grows with every chorus.
Song adapted by Folkcorn.

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(Jan Broeder vrijt een meisje zoet)

Brother John makes love to a sweet girl

In the past it was not just the farmer who worked the land: a number of monastic orders did likewise. Hence the need to include a song about monks on this CD. In this song, Brother John has a sweet girlfriend. He spends many nights with her and is absent during the morningprayers. He flees from the monastery before he can be punished, and chooses to live with his friend. Monks enjoyed a better reputation than the ordinary folk, and monks who decided to opt for earthly pleasures were a popular theme in early Dutch and Flemish songs.

Brother John makes love to a sweet girl, an exceptional girl,
And when her father is not at home, he goes to her for a chat.
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, he goes to her for a chat. Fa la la.

It was twelve o'clock at night, all the bells were ringing,
And the girl said to Brother John: "Go now and read your breviary*"
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, go now and read your breviary. Fa la la.

I will not read my breviary, for the time is long past.
I much prefer to be with my sweet love than with all of my brothers.
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, than with all of my brothers. Fa la la.

Brother John came by the graveyard, and the preacher met him.
The preacher spoke to Brother John: "Where did you lie tonight?"
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, where did you lie tonight? Fa la la.

Where I lay tonight, I will never regret it.
They drank beer and tapped wine and even spoke of marriage.
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, and even spoke of marriage. Fa la la.

Brother Jan came to the monastery where all the brothers were praying.
They all said to one another: "Brother Jan will be captured."
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, Brother Jan will be captured. Fa la la.

When Brother Jan heard what was being said - that he would be taken prisoner,
With one jump he went leapt through the window and left his habit hanging there.
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, he left his habit hanging there. Fa la la.

When he had gone a good distance, he looked back
And shouted: Oh habit, you devilish habit, you won't see me back.
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, you won't see me back. Fa la la.

And the person who wrote this song - yes, and also sang it,
He was a priest and his name was Jan and he escaped from his habit.
Hopsasa, ribedoebeda, he escaped from his habit. Fa la la.

* A breviary is a book containing readings from scripture and prayers for each day that the clergy are supposed to read every day. The task has to be accomplished before midnight - so Brother Jan was far too late!

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(Waer van gaan de boeren zo mooi?)

How is it that the farmers can dress so well?

Obviously life was not always hard for the farmer. Since a farm provided income, the farmer could afford to dress well now and then.
Among the instruments we play here is a set of bagpipes (the old "Hümelchen" Renaissance bagpipe) and the so-called 'rommelpot'. This is an old folk instrument described in Wikipedia under "Friction drum".

How is it that the farmers, the farmers,
How is it that the farmers can dress so well?
They thresh the corn and sell the straw,
That is why the farmers dress so well.

Where do the farmers get all their money from?
They churn the butter and sell the milk,
And that is where the farmers get all their money from.

How come that the farmers drink wine?
They fatten the calf and sell the hog,
Which is how they come to drink wine.

Art seeks appreciation / Handsome apollo

Another song from the pen of the Italian composer Gastoldi, given Dutch lyrics as early as in the 16th/17th century. It is an ode to Apollo, the god of wine and music. Sung a capella, with a final three-part piece played on mirlitons or kazoos.

Handsome Apollo, crown of the Muses,
Prince of the sound of strings,
Let us hear your chorus
of musical song.
Through whose great virtue
Parnassus* lives in peace
and all the wild animals
happily twirl around,
and heavy trees and mountains
all dance together.

We ask to be numbered
together in the crowd of singers,
for singing brings greater joy to humankind,
and banishes pressure and pain.
Then let us cleanse our lips
at the fount of Pegasus **
and we pray that our song might be according to your teachings,
our singing to your honour,
and that - most of all - both these things ***
may pleasure the soul.

* In Greek mythology: the home of the gods.
** In other words: let us drink wine.
*** Presumably, wine and song.

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(Wij zijn gebroeders)

We are all brothers*

This is not an old song, but probably dates from the beginning of the 20th century. However the theme is much older: a day-by-day account, or preview, of what was or will be eaten and drunk every day of the week.
This is again a cumulative song. The body of the song consists of four lines repeated for every day of the week starting with Sunday. In the chorus the name of each subsequent day plus the food eaten that day is added to the ones already named.
Some of the food items are difficult to translate because of different eating habits... So the nearest equivalent has been used.

1 We are all brothers as you can see. (2x)
And when will we meet again?
And when will we meet each other again?

On Sunday, drinking day Sunday,
I wish it was always drinking day Sunday!

2 We are all brothers as you can see. (2x)
And when will we meet again?
And when will we meet each other again?

On Monday, baked beans Monday,
I wish it was always drinking day Sunday,
Baked beans Monday!

3 We are all brothers as you can see. (2x)
And when will we meet again?
And when will we meet each other again?

On Tuesday, meatball Tuesday,
I wish it was always drinking day Sunday,
Baked beans Monday,
Meatball Tuesday!

4 We are all brothers as you can see. (2x)
And when will we meet again?
And when will we meet each other again?

On Wednesday, sausage Wednesday,
I wish it was always drinking day Sunday,
Baked beans Monday,
Meatball Tuesday,
Sausage Wednesday!

5 We are all brothers as you can see. (2x)
And when will we meet again?
And when will we meet each other again?

On Thursday, veal Thursday,
I wish it was always drinking day Sunday,
Baked beans Monday,
Meatball Tuesday,
Sausage Wednesday,
Veal Thursday!

6 We are all brothers as you can see. (2x)
And when will we meet again?
And when will we meet each other again?

On Friday, stockfish Friday,
I wish it was always drinking day Sunday,
Baked beans Monday,
Meatball Tuesday,
Sausage Wednesday,
Veal Thursday
Stockfish Friday!

7 We are all brothers as you can see. (2x)
And when will we meet again?
And when will we meet each other again?

On Saturday, pay-day Saturday,
I wish it was always drinking day Sunday,
Baked beans Monday,
Meatball Tuesday,
Sausage Wednesday,
Veal Thursday
Stockfish Friday
Payday Saturday!

And when will we meet again....
And when will we meet again....
And when will we meet again....
And when will we meet again....