When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I got myself a farm and I did what I could. And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I built myself a shack and I did what I could. And I called my shack: “break my back”, And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I got myself a horse and I did what I could. And I called my horse: “lame of course”, And I called my shack: “break my back”, And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I got myself a wife and I did what I could. And I called my wife: “Run for your life”, And I called my horse: “lame of course”, And I called my shack: “break my back”, And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, So I got myself a son and I did what I could. And I called my son: “My work's done”, And I called my wife: “Run for your life”, And I called my horse: “lame of course”, And I called my shack: “break my back”, And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”, For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could.
My sister,who was born in the Bahamas in 64, always sang this..I was. 🇬🇧 in 69. Me, her daughter n ex husband sung it at her wake last year. Covid sucks ...but songs continue the love n memories❤
She had underlying health problems which made her extremely vulnerable to it.Saying goodbye under the uk's strictest lockdown was unbearable..not being able to grieve and meet as a family (we are a large, geographically distanced but very close one) was 💔our parents couldn't bury their firstborn 💔
I was thinking the same thing yesterday, when I sang this for children for the first time since years and years ago. I think what happened back then was - settlers were given a certain amount of land? Like the 40 acres and a mule idea, but in this case, for people moving west. I'm not sure about this, but this song was written by Oscar Brand, and i have the feeling he did his research. I will do my best to look into this, because I love the song.
@@tracynewman3256 Yes I remember it from my childhood and sought it out, but then realised why I grew up with such a poor misunderstanding about life...still waiting for the land and horse!
@@5cinch Ooh arr...When I first came to this land I was not a wealthy man, so I signed on to the dole, I got what I can. Then I went on the housing list, got me a flat, and I said to me flat, thanks goodness for that, and I said to the dole, drum role, I got what I can. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, so I bought myself a plant, I did what I can. And I said to my plant. "yes indeed", gonna call you little weed, and I said to me flat "thanks goodness for that" and I said to the dole "drum role" I grew what I can. When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, so I got myself some skirt, I did what I did. And I called my skirt Maria Louisa, then we went together and got me a visa, and my little lady made me a baby, and I went to the dole...drum role....got more money to support my honey, and I got a better flat, thank goodness for that, then I went on the sick, got some more lolly, and I said to my lolly...good golly...then I went to the quack for a pain in me back, and he wrote me off, so now I'm a toff, I did what I can.
Next generation i will look for ms Tracy Newman and i hope next-generation she in Brooklyn still or she may reborn in Pennsylvania somewhere
This is what we had when we were kids, I love this stuff still today,
Such nostalgia hearing this song again. Reminds me of childhood.
We use to sing this in the afternoon at summer camp in the mid 60s. Camp Kinneret 1965, Sylmar, CA. Brings back wonderful memories...
I learned it, or at least sang it at camp, as well. Hidden Trails in Agoura, CA. I'm not sure where I learned it. Maybe from a Pete Seeger record?
Love this girl
Love this song so much! New for me! Excellent performance! I like how you switch from fingerpicking to thumb strum!
110% amazing!
These videos are great. I'd like to see the whole show.
I love this. Thank you for posting this.
love it!! . . . the title is similar to 'when first unto this country'
I am in love.
She has a 10,000 watt smile.
When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man,
So I got myself a farm and I did what I could.
And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”,
For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could.
When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man,
So I built myself a shack and I did what I could.
And I called my shack: “break my back”,
And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”,
For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could.
When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man,
So I got myself a horse and I did what I could.
And I called my horse: “lame of course”,
And I called my shack: “break my back”,
And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”,
For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could.
When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man,
So I got myself a wife and I did what I could.
And I called my wife: “Run for your life”,
And I called my horse: “lame of course”,
And I called my shack: “break my back”,
And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”,
For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could.
When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man,
So I got myself a son and I did what I could.
And I called my son: “My work's done”,
And I called my wife: “Run for your life”,
And I called my horse: “lame of course”,
And I called my shack: “break my back”,
And I called my farm: “muscle in my arm”,
For the land was sweet and good and I did what I could.
❤
And I called my donkey horse gone wonky
LOL
My sister,who was born in the Bahamas in 64, always sang this..I was. 🇬🇧 in 69. Me, her daughter n ex husband sung it at her wake last year. Covid sucks ...but songs continue the love n memories❤
@@Thestephouse1 I'm sorry about your sister. Did she die of COVID?
She had underlying health problems which made her extremely vulnerable to it.Saying goodbye under the uk's strictest lockdown was unbearable..not being able to grieve and meet as a family (we are a large, geographically distanced but very close one) was 💔our parents couldn't bury their firstborn 💔
So thank you for all your posts, your music must bring back treasured memories for so many of us ❤🙏
I thought I read that Oscar translated it from a Dutch folk song, 1957?
I didn't know that. Thank you!
w
So, such a poor man in a new country, buys himself a farm, a shack and a horse. That's pretty damn good for a newcomer.
I was thinking the same thing yesterday, when I sang this for children for the first time since years and years ago. I think what happened back then was - settlers were given a certain amount of land? Like the 40 acres and a mule idea, but in this case, for people moving west. I'm not sure about this, but this song was written by Oscar Brand, and i have the feeling he did his research. I will do my best to look into this, because I love the song.
@@tracynewman3256 Yes I remember it from my childhood and sought it out, but then realised why I grew up with such a poor misunderstanding about life...still waiting for the land and horse!
well now its free housing free food free phone free medical so settle in and knock out babies lol
@@5cinch Ooh arr...When I first came to this land I was not a wealthy man, so I signed on to the dole, I got what I can.
Then I went on the housing list, got me a flat, and I said to me flat, thanks goodness for that, and I said to the dole, drum role, I got what I can.
When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, so I bought myself a plant, I did what I can.
And I said to my plant. "yes indeed", gonna call you little weed, and I said to me flat "thanks goodness for that" and I said to the dole "drum role"
I grew what I can.
When I first came to this land, I was not a wealthy man, so I got myself some skirt, I did what I did.
And I called my skirt Maria Louisa, then we went together and got me a visa, and my little lady made me a baby, and I went to the dole...drum role....got more money to support my honey, and I got a better flat, thank goodness for that, then I went on the sick, got some more lolly, and I said to my lolly...good golly...then I went to the quack for a pain in me back, and he wrote me off, so now I'm a toff, I did what I can.
@@5cinch all them poor people living like kings ... average food stamps benefit = $4.17 a day ... OMG