Yes, I know the DT already has the lyrics, but in several places they need correction, and not just the names of the mountains in the first verse.This is such a wonderful song with such poetry in the words, I feel it's a great shame if the only set of lyrics available on the Mudcat/DT are seriously flawed.
I have italicised the corrected areas.
Joy of Living
Ewan MacColl
JOY OF LIVING
(Ewan MacColl)^^
Farewell you northern hills, you mountains all goodbye
Moorland and stony ridges, crags and peaks goodbye
Glyder Fach farewell, Cul Beag, Scafell, cloud-bearing Suilven
Sun warmed rock and the cold of Bleaklow's frozen sea
The snow and the wind and the rain of hills and mountains
Days in the sun and the tempered wind and the air like wine
And you drink and you drink till you're drunk
On the joy of living
Farewell to you my love, my time is almost done
Lie in my arms once more until the darkness comes
You filled all my days, held the night at bay, dearest companion
Years pass by and they're gone with the speed of birds in flight
Our life like the verse of a song heard in the mountains
Give me your hand then love and join your voice with mine
We'll sing of the hurt and pain
And the joy of living
Farewell to you my chicks, soon you must fly alone
Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone
May your wings be strong, may your days be long, safe be your journey
Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love
May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving
Eagerly savour each new day and the taste of its mouth
Never lose sight of the thrill
And the joy of living
Take me to some high place of heather, rock and ling
Scatter my dust and ashes, feed me to the wind
So that I will be part of all you see, the air you are breathing
I'll be part of the curlew's cry and the soaring hawk
The blue milkwort and the sundew hung with diamonds
I'll be riding the gentle wind that blows through your hair
Reminding you how we shared
In the joy of living
Key to the mountain references: Glyder Fach is in Snowdonia, North Wales; Cul Beag and Suilven are in Wester Ross in Scotland; Scafell and Bleaklow are in the English Lake District.Ling is a variety of heather, milkwort and sundew also grow on such mountainous areas.^^