I think the singer adores this person, but refuses to commit. The "ultimatum" of the title is presumably "marry me or we're through".
"It was agreed I came to burn leaves
It's all I ever claimed to do
A ploughman i'll never grow into"
He's saying that he has never been the marrying type and has made no pretenses that he was. So why is she expecting to do something he never meant to, to be something he isn't.
I think the singer adores this person, but refuses to commit. The "ultimatum" of the title is presumably "marry me or we're through".
"It was agreed I came to burn leaves It's all I ever claimed to do A ploughman i'll never grow into"
He's saying that he has never been the marrying type and has made no pretenses that he was. So why is she expecting to do something he never meant to, to be something he isn't.
That's my take on it.