Ploughing Song

The Bhutanese ploughman sing during their work to both entertain themselves and to cheer up the oxen. Langkey, literally the sound for the ox, is a song sung by the plaughman to his bulls. As the hard work of the day become dull and tiresome, the plough affectionately sings to his bulls praising their strength, the plough and the yoke. They often interrupt the singing with kind words of exhortation and guidance. The song of ploughman is found in most parts of Bhutan but the actual words of serenade differ from place to place. This song reflects the Bhutanese attitude towards their animals and beasts of burden and relationship between people and animals.