1. |
Grimsby Fisher Lads
05:51
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When you live with the weather, every trip has its tale
The Grimsby boys shudder as the wind hits the sail
The swell of the ocean closes down on the deck
And we hope we are blessed
Bound as apprentice for seven long years
At the smack captain’s pleasure, and no more tears
From tarring the rope to making the tea
We long to be free
Land ahoy and home again, home again
No more black sea to roam again, roam again
And all the town shall ring to them, ring to them
For the land is drawing near
In boots and hard leather, the voyage has passed
A small penny fortune that never seems to last
The fishermen hate us, for we undercut their wage
And learn nothing at all
Hold fast to the quick and mourn the dead
The Grimsby boy souls and all who have fled
Their ghosts stand high on the harbour walls
Looking out to the sea
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2. |
Ot Moor
04:10
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They hang the man and flog the woman
Who steals the goose from off the common
Yet let the greater villain loose
Who steals the common from the goose
The law demands that we atone
When we take things we do not own
But leaves the lords and ladies fine
Who take things that are yours and mine
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3. |
Turtle Dove
04:42
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Farewell my joy, my only love
I must leave you for a while
And wherever I go I will return
Though it be ten thousand miles, my dear,
Though it be ten thousand miles.
Ten thousand miles it is too far
To leave me all alone.
Whilst I must lie, lament and cry
And you’ll not hear my moan, my dear,
And you’ll not hear my moan.
Until the seas run dry, my dear
And the rocks melt with the sun
You and I will never part
Until those things are done, my dear,
Until those things are done.
The blackest crow that ever flew
Will surely turn to white,
If ever I should prove false to thee
Bright day shall turn to night, my dear,
Bright day shall turn to night.
Now yonder sits a turtle dove,
All under a mulberry tree
A-making mourn for his own true love
As I shall mourn for thee, my dear,
As I shall mourn for thee.
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4. |
Sydlings Copse
04:00
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5. |
Picardy/Bourbon Reel
05:07
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6. |
Green to Gold
05:36
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From green to gold and then to fall
The Autumn stories now recall
That all that changes is the same
We turn the seasons round again
And we’re a little older now
We dream the land beneath the plough
The summer yield is harvest bound
Broken shards beneath our feet
Below the earth are buried deep
And we’re a little older now
The yaffle drumming rarely heard
With passing rain, the woodland stirred
To watch the heron stand alone
Upon a single mottled stone
And we’re a little older now
When frost and ice return to water
Spring is winter’s fairest daughter
Take this joy of life in hand
Take this joy of life
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7. |
Chilswell Valley
04:12
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8. |
Shotover
03:53
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9. |
The Unquiet Grave
05:12
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Cold blows the wind to my true love
And gently falls the rain
I only had but one true love
And in greenwood she lies slain
I’ll do as much for my true love
As any young man may
I’ll sit and mourn all on her grave
For twelve month and a day
When twelve month and one day was passed
The ghost began to speak
‘Why sit you here all on my grave
And will not let me sleep?’
‘I crave a kiss from your cold cold lips
Then weep I will no more’
‘Your grief is blind’ the ghost replied
‘And death we must endure’
‘Go fetch me water from the desert
And light from the darkest moon
Go dig my grave both long and deep
For comes the darkness soon....for comes the darkness soon’
Twas down in Cupid’s garden
Where once young lovers walked
The fairest flower that ever I saw
Has withered to a stalk
The stalk is withered and dry sweetheart
But we shall meet I’m sure
When autumn leaves are pressed to earth
And spring is here once more.
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10. |
Kiss Me Quick
03:14
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11. |
As I Roved Out
04:39
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12. |
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I’d rather be a beggar than a king
I’ll tell you the reason why:
A king cannot swagger or walk like a beggar
Or be half so happy as I.
Let your back and sides go bare, me boys
Your hands and your feet grow cold.
But give to your belly, boys, beer enough
Whether it be new or old.
Whether it be new or old
I’ve sixpence sitting in me pocket,
And I begged very hard for that
There isn’t anybody who can offer me work
While I hold out my begging hat.
Now there’s a nobleman’s hall
We can beg for bread and beer.
We’ll pretend to be lame, or pretend to be blind
Or much too deaf too hear.
We can lie like hogs in a sty
Frost and snow on the ground
We’ll eat a crust that’s rolled in the dust
And be thankful for what we found.
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13. |
The Braes Set
06:59
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14. |
Blasket Island
06:17
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There is a bay off Ireland’s shore
Etched by wind and soil
Where once the earth begotten men
Did go to dream and toil.
And there in Blasket Island coves
Seaweed from the foam
Was gathered up in moleskin bags
Before the journey home
Oh, the tender souls
Then one grey Autumn day
These men, their labour spent,
Did spy a pair of ocean seals,
And so with clubs they went.
The brother seals were torn apart
The first-born cried for life
They laid him down upon a stone
And raised the hunter’s knife
Oh, the tender souls
A hundred years for every cry
Til all are scattered wide
A hundred years for every skin
Stolen on the tide
A hundred years, this barren land
No mortal soul remains
And while the curse hangs over us
We bow our heads in shame
Oh, the tender souls
And seldom now a fisherman
To Blasket isle will row
And hear a lonely ocean seal
Above the tidal flow
Is this the brother standing guard,
The keeper of the land?
Or just a breath of the ocean wind
Along forgotten strands?
Oh, the tender souls
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Moonrakers Oxford, UK
Described as “startlingly talented” (Oxford Times) and now with five albums of "exquisite music "(BBC) and "truly wonderful" (Wycombe Festival) performances, Moonrakers present an informal evening of musical excellence and humour.
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