The Bonny Heavy Plough Horse

This sad little song from the Crimean War is a telling piece of social history.  It reminds us of the vital importance of equine power in those days.  It is all too easy to forget that at one time the official exchange rate was one horse to one kingdom!

The Bonny Heavy Plough Horse appears on Sid's album Like A Rhinestone Ploughboy

Oh my life it was ruined on that fateful day,

When the cruel recruiting Sergeant came riding this way.

For he's done unto me two things most unkind -

Took away my bonny plough horse;  left my husband behind.

For my bonny heavy plough horse to the war she has gone.

Oh I curse those cruel soldiers who tore us apart,

For my husband looks pathetic as he pulls the muck cart;

Why over the seas to fight strangers must they go,

When they could stay home and fight people they know?

       But my bonny heavy plough horse, to the war she has gone.

But, now news has come flying of where Dobbin has gone;

She fought at Balaclava with Cardigan on.

She charged like a plough horse, with a plough horse's knack -

Half a league onward, then half a league back.

       Oh my bonny heavy plough horse, to the war she has gone.

On that field of battle up and down she did prance,

Till the enemy din't know whether to retreat or advance,

They threw down their arms, they moaned and they groaned,

Crying "If you won't fight fair, well, then we're going home".

       And my bonny heavy plough horse, the war she has won.

Today a battle worn plough horse came over the heath,

With an old broken token held firm in her teeth;

With tears I did greet her, my joy I can't tell;

Of course she's not Dobbin, but she'll do just as well.

       For a bonny heavy plough horse, from the war has come home.