KING OF ROME
(Dave Sudbury)

In the West End of Derby lives a working man.
He says "I can't fly but me pigeons can,
And when I set them free,
It's just like part of me
Gets lifted up on shining wings."

Charlie Edson's pigeon loft was down the yard
Of a rented house in Brook Street where life was hard,
But Charlie had a dream,
And in 1913,
Charlie bred a pigeon that made his dream come true.

There was gonna be a champions' race from Italy.
"Look at the maps, all that land and sea.
Charlie, you'll lose that bird."
But Charlie never heard.
He put it in a basket and sent it off to Rome.

On the day o' the big race a storm blew in.
A thousand birds were swept away and never seen again.
"Charlie, we told you so.
Surely by now you know
When you're living in the West End there ain't many dreams come true."

"Yeah, I know, but I had to try.
A man can crawl around or he can learn to fly,
And if you live 'round here,
The ground seems awful near.
Sometimes I need a lift from victory."

I was off with me mates for a pint or two,
When I saw a wing flash up in the blue.
"Charlie, it's the King of Rome
Come back to his West End home.
Come outside quick; he's perched up on your roof."

"Come on down, Your Majesty.
I knew you'd make it back to me.
Come on down, you lovely one.
You made me dream come true."

In the West End of Derby lives a working man.
He says, "I can't fly but me pigeons can,
And when I set them free,
It's just like part of me
Gets lifted up on shining wings."^^^

from the text accompanying This June Tabor YouTube Video

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This YouTube Video has the original Dave Sudbury recording. I really like it.
-Joe-