THE LAKELAND FIDDLER
(Alan Bell)

Oh I am a lakeland fiddler
Bill Irwin is my name
I live in Elterwater
Close by the Langdale lane
Ten hours a day I hew and toil
To earn my daily bread
But when my work time's over
I play my fiddle instead

CHORUS
So come all you dancing masters
Who call to the fiddler's tunes
Lift your feet to the dancing beat
and step right round the room
Come all you lads and lassies
Throw all your cares away
Sing a song as you pass along
Dance the night away

When supper's on the table
with tattie pot to spare
The god brown ale keeps flowing
to fill good souls with cheer
And when the huntsmen gather
the choruses resound
They call on me to play a tune
And help the jug go round

CHORUS

From Kendal up to Keswick
From Gosforth back to Shap
I've walked the lanes of lakeland
With my fiddle and my cap
From Merry nights to dances
And ball at Christmas time
I'll play for happy couples
When wedding bells do chime

CHORUS

Now I've heard the songs from Ireland
And the lilting harp of Wales
I've heard the English singers
Travelling through our dales
But the music of old Westmorland
Is the music I love best
So set to your partner form a ring
And I will do the rest.

Alan A Bell
July 1986


Stu

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Alan Bell recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lonVQUZGVkg