What about Tomorrow ?
1. Guardians
Listening to Richard Digance’s legendary Transatlantic Album How the West was Lost, I came to the inevitable conclusion that a great wrong was done to the North American Indian people which, despite a peaceful settlement, has never been corrected. Hence this song.
1. Clouds go drifting way up high
I dreamt that I could see those riders in the sky
The spirits of my ancestors, still riding free,
But it’s not the same for you and me, The way it’s meant to be;
And what about tomorrow ?
2. We lived in peace upon the plains
We hunted the buffalo, our hands upon the manes
The footprints that we left behind would never leave a stain
We were the Guardians of the Earth, We knew what it was worth;
We were thinking of tomorrow
3. We knew we didn’t own the land
Caring for the country till our children took a hand
We knew the white man would never understand
The skins of the animals we killed, They made our tents and clothes;
Providing for tomorrow
4. Our characters reflected in our names
Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, no-one was the same
And when we die, our spirits are set free
It’s all a tribal memory, The way it used to be;
We thought about tomorrow
5. The white man came and pushed us to the West
He wanted to settle on the land that was the best
We lost the Indian wars; even then there was no rest
And we live on reservations now, On the land where crops won’t grow;
And the buffalo has gone for ever
6. Soon we’d nothing left to lose
The white man took it all while the black man sang the blues
And the Indian reservation was a life we didn’t choose
But it’s not the same as yesterday, The way we live today
And what about tomorrow ?
7. I stared into the fire when I awoke
I saw the memories rising like the signals from the smoke
And I sat and I listened as the braves and elders spoke
Of a time which wasn’t long ago, But to which we can’t return
Because it’s gone for ever
8. The tourists come and try to understand
Our heritage and culture seem to be in high demand
But a theme park can’t replace our reverence for the land
It was deep and felt by everyone, We lived in harmony
With the land that’s gone for ever
2. Keeping England Free
Inspired by my son-in-law, who flies Chinook helicopters for the RAF, mostly in Afghanistan, and my daughter who waits patiently for him to return home.
1. I find it hard to keep my spirits high
You’re only gone for two months, maybe three
Not seven years as in the days gone by
And every flight you make keeps England free
2. You tell me that I should not watch the news
I need not know of every casualty
My flame of hope burns while you are away
I tell myself you’re keeping England free
Br. And the engines roar as the dust flies high, and you fly against the moon
Far away in a distant land, and I hope you’ll be home soon
3. I speak to all the other service wives
And everyone feels just the same as me
But life goes on, the children play outside
While you’re away, still keeping England free.
4. I dream you fly to Helmand, every night
The engines mean you cannot hear my plea
You raise the spirits of the troops, who have to fight
And every flight is keeping England free
Br. And the engines roar as the dust flies high, and you fly against the moon
Far away in a distant land, and I hope you’ll be home soon
5. Now it’s right that I should try to understand
Your role as part of Squadron 23
To give support despite the heat and sand
And every flight is keeping England free.
6. I watch the coffins coming home
A last stand for democracy
Then I hear your voice upon the phone
And the next flight brings you safely home to me.
Br. And the engines roar as the dust flies high, and you fly against the moon
Far away in a distant land, and I hope you’ll be home soon
Slowly . . . I find it hard to keep my spirits high . . . . .
3. Towpath
Some memories of childhood and of summer on the canal, when most of the traffic consisted of working narrow boats.
1. Horses on the towpath, Narrow boats go by,
It’s the height of summer, Swallows flying high
Fellows, Morton, Clayton, Painted liveries,
Carry goods from Birmingham, Under willow trees
2. Fishing with my jam jar, And my bamboo cane,
Ducks go swimming one by one, Still no sign of rain
In an endless summer, Buntings in the dawn,
Hear the traction engines, Harvesting the corn
3. Lock gates close and open, Boats go up and down,
China clay for Potteries, Coals for London town
See the boatman’s daughter, With a smile for me,
Sunlight on the water, Home in time for tea
4. Iron ore from the quarries, Timber from the woods,
Cider from the orchards, Tasting, oh so good
Ten by six the galley, So little space inside,
Baby sleeps inside a drawer, Doors are open wide
5. Out there in all weathers, Never mind the rain,
Breaking ice in winter time, Stoke the fire again
Reds and greens and yellows, Bolinder purring by,
Never caught your name, my love, But I heard you give a sigh
6. It was very different, How it used to be,
Half a century has passed, Since my memories
Now they’re boats for pleasure, Family holidays,
People have more leisure, But still time slips away
4. Festival
Written after having a great time at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival in August, not long after the summer riots of 2011. Radical, Shropshire Lad and Shropshire Lass were on offer in the bars and yes, I did talk about songwriting with a German girl.
1. It’s the end of English summer and the days are not so long; And once again, I feel it calling me
I found my scene, I found my music and I found my song; It’s magic and it’s where I want to be
A festival is everything society should be; The atmosphere is full of love and peace
There won’t be any riots and we do not need the police there
And the real ale from the bars just doesn’t cease
2. Some Radical refreshment for a would-be Shropshire lad, Who hasn’t got his lass in tow tonight
And we listen to the music and we breathe the cool clean air, And I’m writing down my song by candlelight
I wear my orange wristband, I’m playing my guitar; The air is gently scented near the bars
I talk about songwriting with a German girl from Frankfurt
And tonight we’re rubbing shoulders with the stars
3. The Morris men are dancing; there’s a Ceilidh in the dance tent; Other folk are dancing using swords
The music’s never ending and you simply can’t escape it, And therapy is there in every chord
In wellingtons and raingear, the weather doesn’t matter, You can take the river-bus to town
You can dress up like a jester; you can wear your bells all over
And still no-one will treat you like a clown
4. A festival can give you such a meaningful experience, That it makes you think of life in different ways
It’s what I want my nursing home to be like when I’m older, And it’s where I want to finish up my days
We’d be listening to music sung by Donovan and Dylan, John Kirkpatrick playing by the door
With my crowd of ageing hippies, I’d be proud to end my days there
When my mobile home’s not mobile any more
5. Red, White and the Blue
There are many songs about soldiers fighting away from home and missing their loved ones. Here’s another. Definitely an anti-war song !
1. The offer of employment and a chance to see the world
Taking the King’s shilling, we’d see the flag unfurled
We would not be going if we were more well to do
Leaving wives and children for the Red, White and the Blue Ref. Red, White, Blue : I love you. Red, White, Blue : I’ll be true to you
2. We chased Napoleon’s army down through France and Spain
After many skirmishes, we chased him back again
Finally, we faced him on the field at Waterloo
Found he’d met his match against the Red, White and the Blue
Ref. Red, White, Blue : I love you. Red, White, Blue : I’ll be true to you
3. Our contributions crucial in our Empire building days
Made our mark on history in so many different ways
We would play our part, but never see an overview
Fight for King and Country and the Red, White and the Blue
Ref. Red, White, Blue : I love you. Red, White, Blue : I’ll be true to you
4. Now Red’s the colour of your cheeks, which blushed with love so true
White it stands for purity, the way I think of you.
Blue is how I’m feeling and I guess you feel it too
Bound up in the colours of the Red, White and the Blue
Ref. Red, White, Blue : I love you. Red, White, Blue : I’ll be true to you
Yes, I’ll be true to you
6. Lean on Me
A friend told me that a member of his wife’s family had unexpectedly committed suicide. Hence this song about depression and the need to support sufferers like him.
1. Why can’t you lean on me ? Why can’t you see what I can see ?
I could help you see things differently. Just try to lean on me.
2. You say the dark descends. And sometimes it seems the world will end.
But don’t forget you’ve got a friend. So why can’t you lean on me ?
First Bridge. Things look darkest before dawn. Hang on, see it through.
See it as a passing storm. Soon you’ll see the sky turn blue.
3. Don’t just sit there asking why. You won’t suceed if you never try.
I could help you spread your wings and fly. If you’ll only lean on me.
4. You have everything to gain. Don’t like to think you’re going to suffer pain.
Just remember sunshine follows rain. And make sure you lean on me.
Second Bridge. Know by now that life’s not fair. But we struggle through.
I will always be right there Till your sky turns blue.
5. Help is never far away. And I know you find it hard to say,
“Can you come on over, help me through, ‘cos I need to lean on you”
Out. Yes, I need to lean, I need to lean, I need to lean on you.
7. The Girl with Strawberry Hair
I travelled up by train to Newcastle on Tyne to visit my Aunt in hospital there. I couldn’t help but notice a girl who was sitting nearby – she had this rare unworldly angelic quality about her. You could feel it !
1. I saw an angel on the train today, someone I did not expect to meet
A vision only granted to a few, her leggings formed a lotus on her seat
A seat reserved in someone elses name, model-slim she meditated there
Her beauty overcame me and brightened up my day, the girl with strawberry hair
2. She was perfection in so many ways, that really there was nothing to improve
She might have been a dancer in my dreams, I sat and watched her long dark lashes move
Sometimes you see a girl too perfect for this world, and all that you can do is worship and adore
I saw an angel on the train today, the girl with strawberry hair
3. So feminine and fragile sitting there, designer nails were painted with such care
A painter would have found it hard to mix the exact colour of her hair
Her chiffon scarf, translucent in the light, her memory burned itself into my brain
And I know I won’t forget my angel on the train, the girl with strawberry hair
4. The next day when I woke, I had to write, and sitting in the early morning light
Her memory so vivid in my head, I’m literally haunted by her sight
I wonder if she reached her destination; and what was the name of her railway station ?
I saw an angel on the train today, the girl with strawberry hair
5. Where was she going ? Never knew her name, so lovely she was with another guy
I sadly knew I’d not see her again, our paths would come so near but never tie
But still I’m lucky to have had the chance, to have my vision way beyond romance
I wrote my feelings down but its too late; I can’t communicate how much I cared for her
My girl with strawberry hair; My girl with strawberry hair
8. Following the Road
A song inspired by the film “Into the Wild”. Life’s an adventure. It should be exciting ! Live it while you can.
1. Don’t know why I’m on this journey Feel I’ve shed my heavy load
No idea just where it’s taking me I’m just following the road
Make new friends and meet new people You may strike the mother-lode
One thing leads to another When you’re following the road
2. If you feel excitement mounting And you think that you’ll explode
Time goes by but you’re not counting Then you’re following the road
And you don’t know what’s round each corner Mysteries you can’t decode
Don’t let people try to scare you But take care following the road
3. Do the things you always dreamed of Life’s a thing you can’t reload
Wrap adventure’s cloak around you When you’re following the road
And do not lose your sense of wonder Savour every episode
Through the lightning and the thunder Keep on following the road
9. Pentonville Angel
A snapshot observed on a London street during the Friday evening rush hour.
1. From Angel to Euston is not very far Skies are all cloudy, you can’t see a star
Are there angels amongst us who know where we are ? Here on the Pentonville Road
So many people wrapped up in their lives With no time to pause in the game to survive
And everyone’s walking as though hypnotised Out on the Pentonville Road
2. There’s a girl who’s in trouble, her hat on the floor Flute in her hand and she’s wedged in a doorway
With someone who’s hoping she’ll see something more Beyond the Pentonville Road
The girl in the doorway, barely nineteen She wanted the city and some of the scene
But now she’s washed up with the poor and unclean Shipwrecked on Pentonville Road
3. A young man beside her who’s down on one knee Reasoning with her, he might make her see
That there’ll be something better and then she’ll be free And away from the Pentonville Road
The angel beside her, the one with long hair Just one out of hundreds who knew how to care
And I dain’t see his wings but I knew they were there Over the Pentonville Road
4. I left her some coins, there was no more to gain I left them to talk in the soft evening rain
But her face haunted me going home on the train The girl from the Pentonville Road
Now, from Angel to Euston is not very far Skies are still cloudy, you still can’t see stars
But there are angels here and they know who we are ‘Cos I saw one on Pentonville Road
10. Watch the River Flow
The river flows like time, but as we watch it, somehow time slows down. Does that make any sense ?
1. You’re sitting here, you’re one year older You’re trying not to let it show
Into each life some rain must fall But that’s what makes the river flow
2. There isn’t anyone who’s counting Life isn’t over yet you know
Try something fresh for each new day And just be carried by the flow
3. When life hangs heavy on your shoulder Just feel the way the breezes blow
Into each life some rain must fall But that’s what makes the river flow
4. Water flows gently down the river Time seems to slip away so slow
And as we go through life each day Find time to watch the river flow
5. And something strange will draw you nearer To tiny stream or tidal flow
And as you pass, the willows bow From river bank, we watch you go