Bringing Home The Cows

By Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)

Ballad
    Shadows of the twilight falling         On the mountains brow,     To each other birds are calling,         In the leafy bough.     Where the daisies are a-springing,     And the cattle bells are ringing,     Comes my Mary, gaily singing,         Bringing home the cows.     By a bush the pathway skirted,         Room for two allows.     All the cornfields are deserted,         Idle are the ploughs.     Striving for wealths spoil and booty,     Farmer boys have finished duty,     When I meet my little beauty,         Bringing home the cows.     Tender words and kind addresses,         Most polite of bows,     Rosy cheeks and wavy tresses         Do my passions rouse     Dress so natty and so cleanly,     Air so modest and so queenly.     Oh! so haughty, yet serenely,         Bringing home the cows.     Arm-in-arm together walking,         While the cattle browse,     Earnestly together talking,         Plighting lovers vows.     Where the daisies are a-springing,     Wedding bells will soon be ringing,     Then well watch our servant bringing         Mine and Marys cows.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a charming pastoral piece, depicting a romanticized rural life steeped in simplicity and the rhythms of nature. The central theme is the blossoming love between the speaker and Mary, framed by their daily routine of bringing home the cows. The tone is warm, affectionate, and evocative, creating a sense of tranquility and joy that is typical of pastoral poetry.

The poem’s structure is well-crafted, with a consistent rhyme scheme that adds to its musicality and rhythm. This gives it a folk song feel, enhancing the pastoral imagery and the sense of an idyllic rural lifestyle. The repetition of the line "Bringing home the cows" at the end of each stanza serves as a refrain, grounding the poem in the ritualistic, cyclical nature of rural life.

The poem uses vivid imagery and straightforward language to create a vivid picture of this pastoral world. The writer uses personification in the first stanza with "birds are calling," suggesting a communal, harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The poet also employs the use of sensory details, such as visual ("Shadows of the twilight falling") and auditory ("cattle bells are ringing") elements, to create a sensory-rich experience for the reader.

The poem also subtly explores the contrast between the pursuit of wealth and the simple pleasures of love and nature. The lines "Striving for wealths spoil and booty, / Farmer boys have finished duty," suggest a critique of materialistic pursuits, highlighting the value of a simple life enriched by love and nature. The poem ends with the image of the lovers watching their servant bring home the cows, a symbol of their shared future and commitment to each other.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.