COMPLIMENT ON FACEBOOK

Club wordsmith Ken Stott delights the audience . . . . .

After performing my Christmas song at the Sandpiper Folk Club in Pattingham last Wednesday, I received this message via Facebook :

           " Congratulations on your Christmas song about the Evening Star, Ken !
           Brilliantly written and performed !  My only regret is that I didn't buy you
           a gallon of whisky, to say Thank You . . . . ."
                                                                              Vincent Raymond-Barker

For those who haven't heard the song, it is my tribute to the members of the RAF who are away on deployment over the Christmas period.  Lyrics are below . . . . .

                                  Evening Star

1.      December in Afghanistan, not where you’d choose to be          Caught up in the struggle so the country could be free
Regarding personal safety, no-one could guarantee
Be guided by the evening star

Now the last tour had departed, they were flying back to base
And the squadron who took over were the next to take their place
And so it was that evening they were staring into space
Looking for the evening star

2.      Now reports came on the radio of some troops without support
With no other option but their mission to abort
And their call for some assistance was their very last resort
Out beneath the evening star

Well they said there were some wounded and some bodies in the sand --- The orders came to fly out but don’t try to understand
Just take the helicopter there and do the best you can
Head towards the evening star

3.      Now the village was in darkness when they finally arrived
And they found the wounded men who’d had the courage to survive
But they also found a mother who was only just alive
Underneath the evening star

Now the girl went into labour, there was nothing else to do
But to call the paramedic from the helicopter crew
So they waited till the baby came, the time was overdue
Underneath the evening star

4.      They hadn’t brought him frankincense, they hadn’t brought him myrrh --- But they wrapped him in a flying jacket, collar made of fur
While his mother was unconscious and supremely unaware
She couldn’t see the evening star

So they called the baby Jesus, as the date was just the same
And they flew the family back to base and wondered at his name
Was it history repeating or was it just a game
Following the evening star

5.      Three kings were looking out for you 2000 years ago
And they found you in a stable, there was nowhere else to go
But the shepherds and the animals, well they just seemed to know They’d been guided by the evening star

Now you’ve got to know the difference between what is right and wrong --- And there won’t be choirs of angels who are singing evensong --- But that really doesn’t matter, just remember to be strong --- Be guided by your evening star