Here's a song that I used to do to close my shows sometimes. It has no chorus so it was a self indulgence, it was written by Graham and Eileen Pratt a wonderful duo from the North of England...unfortunately I can't tell you the na me of the record it was recorded on but I think it was also recorded by a guy from Derbyshire called Nick Dow:

THE MINSTREL
(Graham and Eileen Pratt)

1) I sang my song at Hasting's battle
To praise the deeds of Charlamagne.
I sang of Arthur and of Roland,
So man remembers their great fame.
I sang to rouse a sinking nation,
That king and man might never yield.
But when the battle cry was over,
We all lay dead on Hasting's field.

2) I sang my song to conquer loved ones.
I sold my voice to him who paid,
To sing his lady gentle love songs.
To lend his passion subtler shades.
And when my silver throated praises,
At last did melt her heart of stone.
They paid me and they both departed,
And left me there to sing alone.


(Jauntily)3) I sang My song at fair and market,
A song much bawdier than before.
Amongst the pigs the geese and the cattle.
I sought to please the crowd once more.
I sang to win applause and favour,
Songs of the cuckold and the whore.
And though I gladly took their money
I missed the songs I'd sang before.


4) I sang my song at times of anger
I found new purpose in my rhymes
At kings and queens I'd point the finger
And bid them see the nation's crimes.
How bitterly did I condemn them,
All those who bled the poor oppressed
but the time was not yet ripe for changes,
And I hung at Tyburn with the rest.

5) My eyes are tired my voice grows weary,
My aging memory's nearly gone.
I've sang my song for the lord and lady
I've sung it to for the common ones
Until there's no more for singing
Until we reach the stories end.
I'll always find the strength within me.
To rise and sing my song again.

There is a verse between 4) and 5) but I cannot for the life of me remember it I can remember the first lines and then it goes blank...it's been about 7 years since I've thought of this song so maybe the verse will come back to me in time.

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See this thread (click) for corrections and for the missing verse.
-Joe Offer-