Fairport Convention - Some Of Our Yesterdays/ Anthology 1985 - 1995 (2005) by Fairport Convention (보컬) on maniadb.com

Red and Gold are royal colours
Peasant colours are green and brown
Green is the corn in the brown earth when it's growing
Red and gold when the harvest is cut down.

Through Cropredy in Oxfordshire the Cherwell takes its course
And the willows weep into its waters clear
My name it is Will Tims and it's here that I was born
And raised in faith my King and God to fear.

In 1644 the King in Oxford Town did dwell
Though we'd heard that Cromwell's army was nearby
It did not occur to me that little Cropredy
Could be witness to the meeting of both sides

On June the 29th that year I was about my work
Cutting hedges in the meadow by the stream
My blade slipped, I cut my hand and my own dear blood did flow
Upon the brown earth and the corn still green

Now it did distress me so to watch my own blood flow
And quickly soak into the greedy ground
In red and gold my colours swam and sweat broke on my brow
And faint I knew that I must lay me down

At first I thought the thundering was just inside my head
So I raised myself above the hedge to see
And I watched as in a dream as the armies fought downstream
The Battle for the Bridge at Cropredy

Now the King's men fought in red and gold though Cromwell's men were plainer
The blood they spilled was coloured just the same
Through the hedgerow's fragile cover I saw brother killing brother
And all of this was done in Jesus' name

All that day and all the next the battle it was raging
Though when darkness came I slipped away
But the crying of the dying kept me wakeful and just lying
In my bed until the dawning of the day

And the dreams I had were red and gold
And the little stream became a flood
From all my brothers killing one another
Till waking I realised it was all my own dear blood

Some were buried in the church and some just where they fell
With no markers to declare their place of rest
But the poppies they do grow where they were never sown
And to my mind they do declare it best

And each year when the green corn once again turns into gold
And the poppies in the field again remind me
Like the scar upon my hand and the blood spilled on this land
And the hungry earth so eager to confine me

For read and gold they are the colours
One is blood and one is power
Though I may find my rest in Cropredy Church
In golden fields forever will spring the poppy flower

By Cropredy the Cherwell is still bidden to keep flowing
And the willows by its side still gently weep
But still in restless dreams by this most peaceful stream
The poppies wake me from my rightful sleep

And the dreams I have are red and gold
And the little stream becomes a flood
From all my brothers killing one another
Till waking I realise it's all my own dear blood

The Hiring Fair
(Ralph McTell)

Well, I went down to the hiring fair for to sell my labour.
I noticed a maid in the very next row and
I hoped she'd be my neighbour.
Imagine then my delight when the farmer picked us both.
I spoke not a word on the cart to the farm,
but my heart beat in my throat.

Well, my lodgings were dry and my master fair,
and I gave him full measure.
But my envy grew like the corn in the field,
for in his house was my treasure.
I'd watch her carry water or drive cows from the byre,
And the heat from the sun made the corn grow strong,
and with it my desire.

Well, I'd see her in my dreaming, and in my dreams caress
Her eyes, her lips, and her dark brown hair,
the curves beneath her dress.
When harvest time it came at last, so heavy was the task,
That the women and the men worked side by side,
and I had her near at last.

So I swung harder with my scythe. Few words between us passed.
And I cursed my tongue-tied youthfulness
and hoped that she'd hear my heart.
When all was safely gathered in, and we sat down to rest,
My trembling fingers touched her arm and
she placed them on her breast.

And then she turned to me as the sun went down,
and all my senses reeled,
As we lay there on the scented ground and
the moon rose over the field. Hmmm....

Well she was safely gathered in my arms when from the barn
Drifted the sound of a violin and we hurried back to the farm.
And all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air,
And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon and
the girl from the hiring fair.

And all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air,
And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon and
the girl from the hiring fair.

London River, oh, the London River
All the love, I have I'll give her
London River, oh, the London River
That's the river for me

First time that I set my eyes upon her
I tell no lie, upon my honor
Sights and sounds that made my heart a shiver
Then I saw her on the London River, oh

London River, oh, the London River
All the love, I have I'll give her
London River, oh, the London River
That's the river for me

Signed to my master in the 1930's
The hours were long and the work was dirty
Out in the Indies where the rum is brewed
Had me a drop and got me kidneys too

London River, oh, the London River
All the love, I have I'll give her
London River, oh, the London River
That's the river for me

Signed for a while on the old rasover
Some of them the stewards they'll blow you over
Lipstick and makeup and all that muck
You walk like a woman and they call you duck

London River, oh, the London River
All the love, I have I'll give her
London River, oh, the London River
That's the river for me

First time that I set my eyes upon her
Tell no lie, upon my honor
Sights and sounds that made my heart a shiver
Then I saw her on the London River, oh

London River, oh, the London River
All the love, I have I'll give her
London River, oh, the London River
That's the river for me

'Twas on one summer's evening all in the month of May
Down by a flowery garden I carelessly did stray
I overheard a young maid in sorrow to complain
All for her handsome sailor boy who ploughed the raging main

I boldly stepped up to her and put her in surprise
I'll vow she did not know me, I being all in disguise
Says, I'm a charming creature, my joy and heart's delight
How far have you to travel this dark and stormy night?

Away kind sir, to the Claudy Banks if you will please to show
Pity her poor girl distracted, oh, there I have to go
I am in search of a young man and Johnny is his name
Along the banks of Claudy, I'm told he does remain

'Tis six long moths on batter, since your true love left the shore
In passing the wide ocean where French's cannons roar
And crossing the wide ocean with honor and for gain
I'm told his ship was wrecked all on the coast of Spain

On hearing of this dreadful news, it put her in despair
With a wringing of her hands and a tearing of her hair
Oh, since he's gone and left me, no other man I'll take
Oh, on the banks of Claudy I'll wander for his sake

Oh, my heart was filled with joy that night, I could no longer stand
I fell into her arms, crying, "Betsy, I'm that man
I am your faithful young man, whom once you thought was slain
Now, since we've met on Claudy Banks, we'll never part again"