Green Leaves Upon The Green

There was a little squatter and he lived close by
Upon the green leaves, upon the green,
And he had a son of a very rough kind
And you know very well what I mean
And you know very well what I mean

And there was another cocky and he lived close by
Upon the green leaves, upon the green,
And he had a daughter of a very rough kind
And you know very well what I mean
And you know very well what I mean

And they placed them both to bed one night
Upon the green leaves, upon the green,
To see which one would tempt the other first,
And you know very well what I mean,
And you know very well what I mean.

She placed her hand upon his hip,
Upon the green leaves, upon the green,
And said, “what is this that stands so stiff?
And you know very well what I mean,
Well you know very well what I mean.

That is my horse that drinks at the well
Upon the green leaves, upon the green.
Yes that is my nag which rears and swells
And you know very well what I mean,
And you know very well what I mean,


But what is this hangs under his chin
Upon the green, leaves upon the green
That's the bags he puts his fodder in
And you know very well what I mean,
And you know very well what I mean,


Said he, "What's this?", "It is a well
Upon the green, leaves upon the green
Where your nag can drink and drink his fill
And you know very well what I mean,
And you know very well what I mean,


But what if he should chance to slip in
Upon the green, leaves upon the green
Then catch hold of the grass that grows on the brim
And you know very well what I mean,
And you know very well what I mean,




But what if the grass should chance to fail
Upon the green, leaves upon the green.
Shove him in by the head, pull him out by the tail
And you know very well what I mean,
And you know very well what I mean.




With the kind assistance of Warren Fahey.  Recorded in Adelaide in 1962 from the singing of Bill Harney and transcribed by Warren from the collection of the State Library of South Australia.


A confusing song.  I have little idea as to what it describes.  Something about horses....