Reaphook and Sickle

Albion Country Band

The Albion Country Band recorded Battle of the Field in 1973 but the album was shelved when the band folded. When it was finally released on Island's budget label HELP in 1976, one track (All of a Row) was deemed unfit for inclusion as the band were not particularly happy with it and anyway, Martin Carthy had by then re-recorded it in a different arrangement for his album Sweet Wivelsfield. As the original band could not be re-convened, John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris quickly recorded a new track, Reaphook and Sickle, to fill the vacant slot on the album. They were assisted by Dave Mattacks on percussion and also hammer dulcimer tuning, according to John Kirkpatrick!


Now come all you lads and lasses
and together let us go
Into some pleasant cornfield
our courage for to show.
With the good old leathern bottle
and the beer it shall be brown.
We'll reap and scrape together
until Bright Phoebus does go down.


With the reaphook and the sickle,
oh so well we clear the land,
And the farmer cries, “Well done,
my lads, here's liquor at your command.”
With the good old leathern bottle and
the beer it shall be brown.
We'll reap and scrape together until
Bright Phoebus does go down.


Now by daybreak in the morning
when the larks begin to sing
And the echo of the harmony
make all the crows to ring
With the good old leathern bottle
and the beer it shall be brown.
We'll reap and scrape together until
Bright Phoebus does go down


Then in comes lovely Nancy
the corn all for to lay,
She is a charming creature
and I must begin her praise:
For she gathers it, she binds it,
and she rolls it in her arms,
She carries it to the waggoners
to fill the farmer's barns.
With the good old leathern bottle
and the beer it shall be brown.
We'll reap and scrape together until
Bright Phoebus does go down.


Well now harvest's done and ended
and the corn secure from harm,
Before it goes to market, lads,
we must thresh it in the barn.
With the good old leathern bottle
and the beer it shall be brown.
We'll reap and scrape together until
Bright Phoebus does go down.


Now here's a health to all you farmers
and likewise to all you men,
I wish you health and happiness till
harvest comes again.
With the good old leathern bottle
and the beer it shall be brown.
We'll reap and scrape together until
Bright Phoebus does go down.

Trad. arr. John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris