Lal & Mike Waterson 1971
As I walked out one summer’s morn,
I saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn.
His coat was black, his head was bare,
And as the wind shook him the crows took into the air.
Chorus 1:
Ah, but you’d lay me down and love me,
Ah, but you’d lay me down and love me if you could.
He’s only a bag of rags in an overall
That the wind sways so the crows fly away and the corn can grow tall.
As I walked out one winter’s day,
I saw an old man tied to a pole in a field of clay.
His coat was gone, his head hung low,
Until the wind flung it up to look, wrung its neck and let it go.
Chorus 2:
How could you lay me down and love me?
How could you lay me down and love me now?
For you’re only a bag of rags in an overall
That the wind blows and the kids throw stones at the thing on the pole.
As I walked out one fine spring day,
I saw twelve jolly dons dressed up in blue and gold so gay.
And to a pole they tied a man new born,
And then the all sang, and the bells rung, as they sowed the corn.
Chorus 3:
Now you can lay me down and love me,
Now you can lay me down and love me if you will.
You’re only a bag of rags in an overall
But the wind blew and the sun shone too and you in the corn stood tall.