The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #42286   Message #614737
Posted By: Stewie
22-Dec-01 - 10:12 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Freeborn Man (Ewan MacColl)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Freeborn Man' by Ewan MacColl -
MacColl sings this stanza on the radio ballad. It is 4.40 into track 5 of the CD [Topic TSCD 808] - 'Don't I wish the old times would come back again ...':

Oh I've ken't life hard and I've ken't it easy
And I've cursed the life when winter days was dawnin'
But I've danced and sang through the whole nacht lang
Seen the summer sun rise in the mornin'

There is also another stanza that I don't recall hearing elsewhere. Here's how I hear it - it may need some correction. 'Well a'' could be an adjective 'wella' - is there such a word? I took 'happed' to be past tense of 'hap', meaning to cover or wrap.

I've made well a' creels and the heather besoms
Lifted tatties, pu'd the berries and ga'ed hawkin'
And I've lain there spent, happed up in the tent
And I've listened to the old folks talkin'

--Stewie.