The Shepherdess

There are two versions of lyrics for this song, both with the same music.


Words & Music: Jake Thackray

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The Shepherdess

She was a simple, shabby little shepherdess :
people pooh-poohed her, they said she looked a mess.
Nobody else was ever so despised as she :
nobody else but her flea-bitten sheep and me.

I must confess that she didn’t seem to dress too neat,
and, truth to tell, she didn’t seem to smell so sweet.
Nobody knew how loving, tender, she could be :
nobody else but her baa-baa sheep and me.

One day in springtime, I was walking by the riverside,
and there I saw, where the cool and greeny waters glide,
my shepherdess undressing by a chestnut tree :
nobody saw but her bleating sheep and me.

She stretched out to sleep in the sun, as shepherdesses do,
covering herself with a chestnut blossom or two.
Nobody knows that the breeze could blow so generously :
nobody else but her scatter-brained sheep and me.

Now I have a wife who’s a shabby little shepherdess :
people pooh-pooh us, but we couldn’t care less.
Nobody else has seen her blossom, seen her sleeping :
nobody else but me, and half-a-dozen po-faced sheep.


The Shepherdess

She was a simple, shabby little shepherdess :
they used to laugh at her, they said she looked a mess.
I must confess that she didn’t dress so neat,
and truth to tell, she didn’t smell so sweet.

Her face was pretty mucky and her hair was always all of a heap :
but what else can you do when you live with a bunch of sheep ?
I couldn’t scoff, for I’m no toff myself :
I’ve not got such a lot on my own top shelf.

One day in springtime, I was walking by the riverside,
and there I saw, where the cool and greeny waters glide,
a sight that began to make, make a man of me :
a shepherdess undressed by a chestnut tree.

“Prithee, pretty shepherdess, pray tell me why you bathe all alone ?
Tell me your sweet name and I will make my heart your chaperone.
“You’d better not come too close, you bam,” her voice rose :
“when I get back me frock, I’ll knock your teeth up your nose.”

Thus she bade me to return her few poor clothes,
but I was in love, and I’d taken care of those :
and furthermore, I swore that never would she
cover herself with anything else but me.

Now I’ve got a wife who’s a shabby little shepherdess :
she nags and she swears and she beats me, but we couldn’t care less.
You may deride my bride, for she’s not so posh :
but you’ve not seen my queen when she’s had a wash...


Click here to download guitar tab