I was thinking the same thing yesterday, when I sang this for children for the first time since years and years ago. I think what happened back then was - settlers were given a certain amount of land? Like the 40 acres and a mule idea, but in this case, for people moving west. I'm not sure about this, but this song was written by Oscar Brand, and i have the feeling he did his research. I will do my best to look into this, because I love the song.
@@tracynewman3256 Yes I remember it from my childhood and sought it out, but then realised why I grew up with such a poor misunderstanding about life...still waiting for the land and horse!
@@5cinch Ooh arr...When I first came to this land I was not a wealthy man, so I signed on to the dole, I got what I can. Then I went on the housing list, got me a flat, and I said to me flat, thanks goodness for that, and I said to the dole, drum role, I got what I can. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, so I bought myself a plant, I did what I can. And I said to my plant. "yes indeed", gonna call you little weed, and I said to me flat "thanks goodness for that" and I said to the dole "drum role" I grew what I can. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, so I got myself some skirt, I did what I did. And I called my skirt Maria Louisa, then we went together and got me a visa, and my little lady made me a baby, and I went to the dole...drum role....got more money to support my honey, and I got a better flat, thank goodness for that, then I went on the sick, got some more lolly, and I said to my lolly...good golly...then I went to the quack for a pain in me back, and he wrote me off, so now I'm a toff, I did what I can.
When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I got myself a farm and I did what I could. And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I built myself a shack and I did what I could. And I called my shack: “break my back”, And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I got myself a horse and I did what I could. And I called my horse: “lame of course”, And I called my shack: “break my back”, And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I got myself a wife and I did what I could. And I called my wife: “Run for your life”, And I called my horse: “lame of course”, And I called my shack: “break my back”, And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I got myself a son and I did what I could. And I called my son: “My work's done”, And I called my wife: “Run for your life”, And I called my horse: “lame of course”, And I called my shack: “break my back”, And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could.
My sister,who was born in the Bahamas in 64, always sang this..I was. 🇬🇧 in 69. Me, her daughter n ex husband sung it at her wake last year. Covid sucks ...but songs continue the love n memories❤
She had underlying health problems which made her extremely vulnerable to it.Saying goodbye under the uk's strictest lockdown was unbearable..not being able to grieve and meet as a family (we are a large, geographically distanced but very close one) was 💔our parents couldn't bury their firstborn 💔
