The Lincolnshire Shepherd

Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp. Yon owd ewe's far-welted, this ewe's got a limp Sethera, methera, hovera, and covera up to dik, Whose ta deal wi' 'em all, and wheer's me crook and stick? verse 1 Why I count 'em up to figgits, and figgit there's a notch, Why there's more to being a shepherd than to being on watch; For there's swedes to chop and there's lambing time and snow upon the rick, Yan, tan, tethera, and covera up to dik. Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp. Yon owd ewe's far-welted, this ewe's got a limp Sethera, methera, hovera, and covera up to dik, Whose ta deal wi' 'em all, and wheer's me crook and stick? verse 2 Why from Caistor down to Spilsby from Sleaford up to Brigg, There's Lincoln sheep all on the chalk, all hung wi' wool and big. And I'm here in Langton wi' this same old flock, Just like me grandad did afore they meddled with the clock. Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp. Yon owd ewe's far-welted, this ewe's got a limp Sethera, methera, hovera, and covera up to dik, Whose ta deal wi' 'em all, and wheer's me crook and stick? verse 3 For we've bred our tups and gimmers for the shape and length and girth, And sheep have bred, have gone away all o'er all the earth. Why they've bred in foreign flocks to give the wool its length and crimp, Yan, tan, tethera, pethera, pimp. Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp. Yon owd ewe's far-welted, this ewe's got a limp Sethera, methera, hovera, and covera up to dik, Whose ta deal wi' 'em all, and wheer's me crook and stick? verse 4 For they're like a lot of bairns, they are, like youngsters of me own, when They fondle around about owd Shep until they're strong and grown; But they gets independent-like, an a'fore i knows, they've gone, And yet come round next lambing time some more'll carry on. Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp. Yon owd ewe's far-welted, this ewe's got a limp Sethera, methera, hovera, and covera up to dik, Whose ta deal wi' 'em all, and wheer's me crook and stick? Verse 5 Why Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp, Fifteen notches up to now and one ewe with a limp. Why you reckons I should go away, but you know I'll never go, For lambing time's on top of us and it'll surely snow. Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp. Yon owd ewe's far-welted, this ewe's got a limp Sethera, methera, hovera, and covera up to dik, Whose ta deal wi' 'em all, and wheer's me crook and stick? Verse 6 For it's lambing time comes reg'lar-like, just as it's always been, And shepherds have to tend to them until they're strong an weaned Why my family did it a'fore I came, they'll have it when I sleep, And they shall count their lambing times like I am countin' sheep. Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp. Yon owd ewe's far-welted, this ewe's got a limp Sethera, methera, hovera, and covera up to dik, Whose ta deal wi' 'em all, and wheer's me crook and stick?