The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #35780 Message #491105
Posted By: Joe Offer
24-Jun-01 - 11:29 PM
Thread Name: Origins: When a Knight Won His Spurs
Subject: ADD: When a Knight Won His Spurs^^
OK, here's the definitive text I've gleaned from above and from other sites (couldn't find it in any of my hymnals - I've got about 50 of 'em). Kernow John, it's probably best to post the whole enchilada when you're posting a song, and to use the Digital Tradition format spelled out in the FAQ. I couldn't figure out a DigiTrad category that's appropriate for this song. Any suggestions? -Joe Offer- WHEN A KNIGHT WON HIS SPURS (Jan Struther)
When a knight won his spurs in the stories of old, He was gallant and brave, he was gentle and bold, With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand, For God and for valour he rode through the land.
No charger have I, and no sword by my side, Yet still to adventure and battle I ride, Though back into storyland giants have fled, And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.
Let faith be my shield, and let joy be my steed, 'Gainst the dragons of anger, the ogres of greed, And let me set free with the sword of my youth, From the castle of darkness, the power of the truth.
The tune is The Fair Flower of Northumberland, called Stowey in the hymn books. Jan Struther (pseudonym for Joyce Anstruther, 1901-1953) also wrote the hymn "Lord of All Hopefulness" (tune: Be Thou My Vision/Slane). She is best known for her 1940 wartime novel "Mrs. Miniver."