An Acre of Land

Sung by Jim and Bob Copper on Come Write Me Down. Recorded by Seamus Ennis for the Beeb, 24 April 1952; BBC 17989.

My father had an acre of land
Ee oh, sing ivy
My father had an acre of land
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

He ploughed it with a team of rats
Ee oh, sing ivy
He ploughed it with a team of rats
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

He sowed it with a pepper box
Ee oh, sing ivy
He sowed it with a pepper box
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

He harrowed it with a small-tooth comb*
Ee oh, sing ivy
He harrowed it with a small-tooth comb
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

He rolled it down with a rolling pin
Ee oh, sing ivy
He rolled it down with a rolling pin
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

He reaped it the blade of his penknife
Ee oh, sing ivy
He reaped it the blade of his penknife
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

He thrashed it with a wad of straw
Ee oh, sing ivy
He thrashed it with a wad of straw
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

He wimmed it on the brim of his hat
Ee oh, sing ivy
He wimmed it on the brim of his hat
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

He sent it to market on a louse's back
Ee oh, sing ivy
He sent it to market on a louse's back
And a bunch of green holly and ivy

And now the poor old man is dead
Ee oh, sing ivy
And now the poor old man is dead
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.

Transcribed by Garry Gillard, who writes: 'Jim does not sing "small-tooth" comb - tho that's what's in the song booklet that comes with the CD. I can't make out the actual words.'

A slightly different version of this song appears as "Heigh Ho Sing Ivy" on the Song for Every Season LP.