Fifty Verses

1. SANTA GEORGIA (N.Kerr )

Well I was not bound for Eden and my bag became a burden

So here I made my garden where the banks of burdocks grow

And there was no gold or silver where the foundry meets the river

In the land of Santa Georgia where the banks of burdocks grow

Where old panes are broken and a thousand tongues are spoken

And new saints awaken where the banks of burdocks grow

So farewell cold winter we will all shine out together

In the land of Santa Georgia where the banks of burdocks grow

Well there is no peace or plenty in the land of old Brigante

But the rain falls down so gently where the banks of burdocks grow

And a fond lover’s sweetness is a lantern in the darkness

Is a grand and burning furnace where the banks of burdocks grow

Where old panes are broken …

Well the king he sent his army from the land of old Brigante

And the soldiers they were weary where the banks of burdocks grow

So they stormed the temple quarter and the glass fell down like water

In the land of Santa Georgia where the banks of burdocks grow

Now old panes are broken…

On the road to old Brigando where the factory meets the meadow

There’s a lantern in my window where the banks of burdocks grow

And a thousand trees are planted in the land of old Brigante

In the land of Santa Georgia where the banks of burdocks grow

Where old panes are broken …

3. FIFTY VERSES (N. Kerr)

See how the season is starting something

The swift unearthing of a summer long

And thrifty voices do greet the dawning

With fifty verses of a longer song

On yonder alder the red wood growing

As he grows older does grow more grand

His bark and berries do soothe the sorrows

Of every woman and every man

See how the season …

The sea remembers on an eve in August

Our driftwood fire like a burning man

We blew the embers and in the morning

Had fishes flying into the pan

See how the season …

The stars are burning to light the evening

And a clifftop morning will breeze along

Just fifty turnings in a longer living

Just fifty verses of a longer song

Just fifty turnings in a longer living

Just fifty verses of a longer song

See how the season …

11. WHEN YOU WERE BORN (trad)

When you were born you cried and the world rejoiced

Live your life so that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.

2. THE DEATH OF NELSON (trad)

On the 21st of October before the rising sun

We formed the line for action me boys at twelve o clock begun

Brave Nelson to his men did say “The Lord will prosper us this day,

Give then the broadside, fire away”

On board a man of war

So broadside to broadside our cannon balls did fly

Like hail stones their small shot around our decks did lie

Our mast and rigging were shot away, besides some thousands in that fray

Were killed and wounded on that day

On board a man of war

But then our brave commander in grief he shook his head

“There is no reprieve, there is no relief, great Nelson he is dead,

It was a fatal musket ball that caused our Hero for to fall

But he died in peace, God bless you all”

On board a man of war

And the merchants of Yarmouth when they did hear it so

They said “Come, brother sailors, to church now let us go,

There we will build a noble pile, all for the hero of the Nile,

Who gave his life for England’s Isle:

On board a man of war

Now our soldiers and sailors many noble deeds have done

While fighting in foreign, many battles they have won

If the Nile it could witness there or the Cape of Trafalgar declare

There is none with Nelson could compare

On board a man of war

6. BAMPTON FAIR (P. Wilson)

Are you going to Bampton Fair?

Get your beer down Bob, we’re moving

Are you going to Bampton Fair, boy?

We’ll go to the fair like we’ve always done

Get in the car and give it a run

Get a few friends and have some fun

Down at the Bampton Fair, boy, down at the Bampton Fair

Who did you see at the Bampton Fair…

Young ones, old ones, me and you

Travellers, farmers, visitors too

They even had a TV crew

Down at the Bampton Fair…

What did you buy at the Bampton Fair…

A crockery set that has no cups

A brand new shirt that has no cuffs

A bloomin’ old grai that has no puff

Down at the Bampton Fair…

What did you drink at the Bampton Fair…

Twenty-one pints and one for me head

A scotch or a brandy or a port instead

All served up in a muddy old shed

Down at the Bampton Fair…

What did you get at the Bampton Fair…

Two black eyes and a broken nose

I caught a cold and I damn near froze

A bump on the head and I tore me clothes

Down at the Bampton Fair…

Will you go next year to Bampton Fair…

If the pubs are open and the beer is free

If the landlord says “It’s all on me”

If I can’t think of anywhere else to be

I’ll go to Bampton Fair, boy,

Go to Bampton Fair, boy, to Bampton Fair

8. SHEPHERD'S SONG (trad)

We shepherds are the best of men that e’er trod English ground

When we come to an alehouse we value not one crown

We spends our money freely; and we pay before we go

For there’s no ale on the wold where the stormy winds do blow.

For there’s no ale on the wold…

A man that is a shepherd does need a valiant heart

He must not be faint-hearted but boldly play his part

He must not be faint-hearted be it rain or frost or snow

With no ale on the wold where the stormy winds do blow

He must not be faint hearted…

When I kept sheep on Blockley Hill it caused my heart to beat

To see the ewes hang out their tongues and hear the lambs to bleat

So I plucked up my courage and o’er the hills did go

And penned them in, in the fold where the stormy winds do blow

So I plucked up my courage…

As soon as I had folded them I turned my back in haste

Unto some jovial company, good liquor for to taste

For drink and jovial company, they are my heart’s delight

While my sheep lie asleep all the fore-part of the night.

For drink and jovial company…

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4. WEDDING BELLS (J. Arrowsmith)

On a Winter’s day I walked alone

The coldest day of all the year

And I wished that I had for my own

A sweetheart who would be my dear

Oh wedding bells ring out one day of joy

On a day in Spring ‘neath skies so clear

I met my love for the very first time

And my heart was filled with joy and cheer

That I was his and he was mine

Oh wedding bells…

On a Summer’s day the sun did shine

We shared our thoughts and did agree

That evermore our hearts would twine

And therefore married we should be

Oh wedding bells…

This Autumn day as all can see

We stand together clasping hands

In front of friends and family

Are joined as one with marriage bands

Oh wedding bells…

7. THE WANTON WIFE OF CASTLEGATE (trad)

There was a wife of Castlegate but I’ll not tell of her name,

She is both brisk and buxom and she likes the fumbling game

She can nip and she can trip me boys as she goes over the plain

‘Til she meets with a jolly boating man and she’s off with him again

He says “Me Molly, honey, oh could you fancy me

Come on up to my ship’s cabin and contented we will be

For I have got gold and silver and of you I will take care

And a whopping great pair of horns my love your husband he will wear

“For your husband he’s a silly old fool and he’s blind as blind can be

And so to wear the horns me love contended he will be

He can wiggle them at his leisure, he can do the best he can

While his wife takes her pleasure with the jolly boating man

“Well at Pomfret clock and tower, me love, there’s silver in great store

And I wish that we could go there, for then we’d have us some more

And we’ll sup on wine and whisky, we’ll have beer and ale in store

Here’s a health to lads and lasses and great tipplers evermore.”

There was a wife…

10. COME AND I WILL SING YOU (trad)

Come and I will sing you

What will you sing me?

I will sing you one-oh

What is your one-oh?

One is one and all alone and evermore shall be so

…Two is for the lilly-white babes, covered all in green-oh

…Three of them are strangers

…Four for the gospel makers

…Five for the symbol at your door

…Six for the charming waters

…Seven for the seven stars in the sky

…Eight for the eight bold rangers

…Nine for the nine bright shiners

…Ten for the ten commandments

…Eleven maidens all in a dance

…Twelve for the twelve apostles

12. BRIGHT MORNING STAR (trad)

Bright morning star’s arising

Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear fathers?…

Some are down the the valley praying …

Some are gone to heaven shouting…

Bright morning star’s arising…