Acre of Land
My father left me an acre of land
There goes this ivery,
My father left me an acre of land,
And a bunch of green holly and ivery.

I ploughed it with my ram’s horn,
I sowed it with my pepper box,

I harrowed it with my bramble bush,
I reaped it with my little penknife,

I sent it home in a walnut shell,
I threshed it with my needle and thread,

I winnowed it with my handkerchief,
I sent it to mill with a team of great rats,

The carter brought a curly whip,
The whip went pop and the waggon it stopped.


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The word 'ivery' in this song is a dialect pronunciation of the word 'ivy'.

This song is a version of the old English legend the Elfin Knight. 
Find out more about the story of Acre of Land (doc)

Download Songsheet (pdf)

Download Songsheet (doc)

Song sung by Paul Sartin and the children of Anton School in Andover

Download Teachers' Notes for Hampshire (pdf)

 

 

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