1. |
The Arboretum
03:27
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1
We met when we were young in the arboretum’s light
We shared a love of botany, we talked all through the night
We talked all through the night, my love, and then as day began
We kissed beneath the trees around us growing
Growing, growing, and as the day began
We kissed beneath the trees around us growing
2
I posed my love a question, a challenge for a prize
He’d win my hand in marriage if the answer he surmised
If the answer he surmised, my love, I promise we will wed
Our love is like a tree so quickly growing
Growing, growing, and I promise we will wed
Our love is like a tree so quickly growing
3
This tree it does grow high and the needled leaves grow green
Deciduous and conical, its golden crown is seen
Its golden crown is seen, it hails from Europe and Japan
Now all throughout our land this tree is growing
Growing, growing, from Europe and Japan
Now all throughout our land this tree is growing
4
It’s said that from enchantments this tree protects us all
And evil spirits vanish when you burn the leaves in Fall
So burn the leaves in Fall, my love, and tell to me the name
Each moment passing by the riddle growing
Growing, growing, and tell to me the name
Each moment passing by the riddle growing
5
He threw his arms around me and danced me round and round
He shouted out the answer and so happy was the sound
He shouted out the answer, and he kissed me twice and ten
Our laughter and our joy was ever growing
Growing, growing, he kissed me twice and ten
Our laughter and our joy was ever growing
6
In spring we will be married, we’ll walk beneath the boughs
And underneath the flowering Larch we both will make our vows
We both will make our vows, my love, enjoy our wedding bed
And very soon our family will be growing
Growing, growing, we’ll enjoy our wedding bed
And very soon our family will be growing
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2. |
Wonderful Fairytale
04:11
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1
In the house she gets on with things that need doing daily
In the house she sweeps crumbs from the floor
Every day she works hard at cleaning things and scrubbing things
It’s time to break away from her own Cinderella
Chorus
Lavender’s blue, Lavender’s green
Slippers of glass kicked off by the Queen
Snow White is tired, but the Miller is fine
Where’s “ever after” in fairytale rhyme?
2
Now she's working by night, and writing in the daytime
Now she's left all the housework, it's a mess
Still she often hears the voice, you’re not the fairest of them all
Until one day she took a hammer to the mirror
Chorus
3
Every night she's home late, another list of questions
Every night the race to spin the pile of gold
Where's the walk in the morning, the kisses and the hand in hers?
She's the Miller's Girl, and she can't find the answer
Chorus
She’s doing it for herself, she’s just got to try
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3. |
A Far Cry
03:53
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1
Some you win, some you lose, some you steal some you choose
You just walk away with everything
Then the voice in your head, saying the things he said
Leaves you with nothing
And all the girls who taught me half the rules
I’m older now but ev’ry inch a fool
Calling out your name
Chorus
It’s a far, far cry from the devil to the sea
It’s a far, far cry from you loving me
It’s a far, far cry, wanna feel your loving arms around me
Can you hear me?
2
See your eyes crying tears, they must be drowning you
Keep your dreams here inside, they can’t take that from you
Be a winner with a losing streak
Be a loser with a smile
It’s over now you made that clear to see
So won’t you stay in these loving arms
for baby one more night, baby one more night
Chorus
It’s a far, far cry from the devil to the sea
It’s a far, far cry from you loving me
It’s a far, far cry, wanna feel your loving arms around me
Can you hear me calling you home?
Chorus
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4. |
The Cold Susquehanna
03:56
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1 Two sisters played by the river wide, river wide
Oh the river running dark and deep
While a Johnny boy he walked on the other side
Oh, the cold Susquehanna flows
2 Well he gave one sister flowers bright, flowers bright
Rolled with the other one all through the loving night
3 So the sisters fought and they tumbled round, tumbled round
Pushed their Johnny boy all into the river brown
4 Arm in arm they skipped on the river bank, river bank
Watched him as he rose, cried out and his body sank
5 And the sisters laughed as they ran away, ran away
Neither shed a tear nor thought of it any day
6 Poor Johnny boy floated long and far, long and far
His bones were as white, white as the whitest star
7 And his long hair shone like a silken thread, silken thread
Drifted and it dragged and caught in the river bed
8 But the fish carried him to the rocky shore, rocky shore
Then they swam away, they knew they could do no more
9 Now his skull and hair like a violin, violin
Played a little tune each time the wind blew in
10 And the words of the song sounded like this, like this
Water may be thick, but blood it thicker is
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5. |
My Elfin Knight
03:14
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I could close my eyes, prepare to run
The forest fires, the hidden sun
I carry you, you're here with me
The swan's nest by the alder tree
A day of rest, a precious hour
My mind is clear, my body sure
We bring the future tumbling down
My ruined shield, your thorny crown
And I'll see you there, by guiding light
Will you wait for me, be there with me
My elfin knight
I stand alone, the storm ahead
A rainbow shimmers through, you said
The one who thought to judge my path
Negotiate the aftermath
A day of peace, a light turned low
The memory, the ‘told you so’
We build the future up once more
A house of bricks, a roof of straw
And I'll see you there, by guiding light
Will you wait for me, be there with me
My elfin knight
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6. |
The Wear County Line
04:17
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Chorus
The train gathers speed by the Wear County Line
I'm coming home to you
I’ve been far away for a long, lonely time
I'm coming home to you
I left on this train a very long time ago
You didn't even notice I was gone
But we both had some things that we needed to get over
Did you make it too? You're coming into focus
Chorus
If I look I can see our lovers’ bench by the tree
The one where we'd talk the day away
The wood needs some mending, some love and tlc
Will you meet me there? You're coming into focus
Chorus
There's the old farmhouse where our boys became men
I can still hear them playing now
Someone's fixed the thatch, and the windows gleam again
I'll find you there? You're coming into focus
Chorus
There's the tiny chapel where my Niall’s lilies grow
Together we’ve been there for loss and joy
We danced down the aisle heel ‘fore heel and toe ‘fore toe
Will I see you there? You're coming into focus
Chorus
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7. |
Humphrey Kynaston
03:29
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1
I’ll tell of Humphrey Kynaston, from Shropshire he did hail
His father the Castle Keeper left him a large entail
Humphrey squandered all on horses, ale and fickle friends
His wild heart led him woefully to lend
Humphrey’s mum found for her son a lady rich to wed
The dowry was soon frittered, upped his ruined wife and fled
Trouble grew, and Humphrey’s wild ways he could ne’er curtail
So the Sheriff got Humphrey ready for Debtor’s Gaol
On looked stallion Beelzebub with magic powers of speed
With his flashing hooves and master, away flew Humphrey’s steed
2
Living in a cave at Nescliff, Humphrey had long hours to think
The villagers took pity, brought him hearty food and drink
A bold plan came to Humphrey, he said “a highwayman I’ll be
To rob the moneyed and set the poor man free”
Wild Humphrey he found great acclaim as a robbing highwayman
The sheriff and the local rich made a cunning ambush plan
From Montford Bridge they took the planks so none could get away
But Beelzebub flew them over and won the day
The blacksmith’s boy helped Humphrey to hide his dark abode
He shod Beelzebub backwards, to disguise which way he rode
3
One day word came to Humphrey, of a landlord he’d attacked
It cost his struggling tenants dear, so he paid him duly back
Then Lloyd of Aston invited Humphrey to dine and locked him in
But Beelzebub vaulted walls, soared on the wind
Wild Humphrey growing frail and old was pardoned by the King
A mystic woman with magical powers came to sit with him
Slipping her hood off, Humphrey recognised the smile she gave
“My husband you’ve proved yourself both kind and brave”
Hand in hand and happy, Humphrey Kynaston sweetly died
But of his horse Beelzebub? Ne’er again was seen his hide!
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8. |
The Three Ravens
03:23
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1
As I was walking all alone, I heard three ravens call and moan
The elder to the young did say, where shall we gan and dine the day?
In lowland field by mossy dyke, I see there lies a new slain knight
Nobody knows that he lies there, but hawk and hound, and his lady fair
Hawk and hound, and his lady fair
2
Now I can spy a fallow doe, as great with young as she might go
She’s lifted up his wounded head, and kissed his lips so rosy red
She’s laid the knight upon her back, and carried him to the earthen track
She’s buried him with flint and sword, and joined him there for evermore
Joined him there for evermore
3
There’s many searched while days are long, but none can fathom where he’s gone
O’er his white bones the grass has grown, I hear the ravens call and moan
May you be blessed with love so true, like fallow doe they will carry you
Woe betide that lady fair, hawk and hound watch her everywhere
Hawk and hound watch her everywhere
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9. |
Never A Lad
04:01
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1
There's never a lad like my lad, drives to his days on time
He's coalie black on workdays but on holidays he's fine
He's gentle, warm and loving, tell me would it be a crime
If ever I should let him go? Not a lad like mine
Chorus
Oh, never a lad like mine
Oh, he'd never leave me
Oh, never a lad like mine
Oh, not a lad like mine
2
There's never a lad like my lad, valiant, strong and true
The lasses are so fond of him, he's handsome and he's kind
If ever he would leave me, well I don't know what I'd do
Oh no, I'll never let him go, not a lad like mine
Chorus
3
There's never a lad like my lad, he hurries straight home at night
He greets me with a warm embrace, his kisses are divine
And when we roll around in bed I pull him close and tight
He knows I'd never let him go, not a lad like mine
Chorus
4
There's never a lad like my lad, lately he's quick to leave
And when I offer up a kiss he's tending to decline
I pace the floor and wring my hands, I suffer and I grieve
But still I'll never let him go, not a lad like mine
Chorus
5
There's never a lad like my lad, he's with me night and day
I greeted him the evening last, we both sat down to dine
A poison pie, a sad goodbye, and now he'll never stray
I said I'd never let him go, not a lad like mine
Chorus
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10. |
Myself At Home
05:01
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1
In my childhood, the years were longer then, full of games and fun
In the garden, climb and run around, no-one waiting, nothing to be done
I'd be bored then I'd write a song, crossing words out with an inky pen
It came easily, I could always be, myself at home
2
In my school years, there was so much to learn, barely time to write
Every moment, independent now, no surprise I'd wake up in the night
In my heart I would hear a song, sometimes sure, I’d search to find a pen
Hoping soon I'd be, all I tried to be, myself at home
3
Then in love, the moments slipped away, lost in passions deep
Who I was once, disappeared with dreams, in his arms I'd tumble off to sleep
And my song, was a song for two, making plans, no time to lift the pen
Caught in mystery, he was finding me, myself at home
Like a letter from my past, or a poem that I wrote
Every voice, every choice seems so far away
Who I was went by so fast, every dream a fading note
Coming home, I will see you again
4
In the garden, the shadows lengthening, time to go to bed
Now my children, they climb and run around, hide and seek with many years ahead
In their voices I can hear a song, new again, I reach, pick up my pen
Now it’s clear to see, they are part of me, myself at home
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11. |
Caden's Lullaby
03:52
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Chorus
Sleep, my little bonny boy
Dream away the long night
Just close your eyes, my tired one
‘Til the first morning light
1
For your Mam is worn out
Your Dad is tired too
And the lads, snug in their beds
They are dreaming for you
Chorus
2
You’ve had milk, I’ve held you close
Now you’re drowsy, warm and dry
Lullabies I have sung for you
So why do you cry?
Chorus
3
Dream of Dom on his guitar
As you loudly drum along
And Sean on his fiddle
Their love makes you strong
Chorus
4
One day you’ll be a man
With a family of your own
Then we’ll miss the cry at midnight
And our old noisy home
Chorus
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12. |
So, Here's To You
03:34
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1
When first we met, complete awkward strangers
We did not know if we could be friends
How soon we’ve come for to know each other
And now I know we will meet again
Chorus
So here’s to you, and our time together
I will share with you a parting glass
And I’ll bid adieu with some smiles and laughter
Our time apart will be short and pass
2
We’ve talked of dreams and of new tomorrows
Of yesterday and its dark despair
We’ve had our share of love and sorrows
And now we part as friends who care
Chorus
3
A long, long road, well it lies before me
And fate will lead me where it will
And through the valleys and over mountains
I will not forget, but remember you still
Chorus
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Bill Jones UK
Bill Jones is an acclaimed UK folksinger, songwriter and musician (piano and
accordion).
New album Wonderful Fairytale was released on 1st May 2019 after a 15 year break.
Bill's previous recordings, from 2000-2003 but still fresh and relevant today, are all available here.
... more
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