Lyr ADD: Me I'm Just a SHEPHERDESS (Oliver)

Subject: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Feb 15 - 02:27 PM

Last night, I heard a woman from Sussex named Chris Skinner sing an interesting, fairly recent song about a shepherdess.
Can't remember much from the song, but some fragments are "Me, I'm just a shepherdess," "I rescued lambs before they died," "on the downs of Sussex."

Anybody know this one?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: vectis
Date: 28 Feb 15 - 03:53 AM

Yes it is a Charlotte Oliver song. She lives in Brighton and sings with Richard Spong a lot. They may well have a web site, are very helpful and nice people. I should have the words somewhere but not on this PC. Good luck

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 08:46 PM

Refresh. Anybody have the lyrics?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 06:20 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 06:33 PM

Hi Joe - I've sent a message to Charlotte on Facebook, to let her know that you've asked about her song. I've heard both Charlotte and Chris sing it, and thought what a good song it is, but don't myself have the words, unfortunately!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 30 Apr 15 - 06:48 PM

Charlotte came to Wimborne folk club this evening - she hadn't seen this thread, so I said I'd revive it and send her the link!

Kitty

Subject: ADD: Shepherdess
From: My guru always said
Date: 01 May 15 - 02:30 AM

Hi Joe, I've been singing this wonderful song by Charlotte Oliver for a while now. I'll leave explaining the background of the song to Charlotte, but here are the lyrics:

SHEPHERDESS
(Charlotte Oliver)

Me, I'm just a Shepherdess, come lambing time each day I'm dressed
In boots and jeans my hair a mess, and night times, I'm the same
For every two hours I must rise, to shine my torch in frightened eyes
To rescue lambs before they die, and carry them back home

And who would be a Shepherdess?
Come lambing time, come lambing time
Oh, who would be a Shepherdess?
All on the Sussex Downs

I hardly notice day or night, night turns to day or dark to light
I try to sleep but just can't quite, so switch on Sky TV
Celebrities and old quiz shows, my sheep dogs guard me as I doze
And that is how the Spring-time goes, a lonely time for me
Chorus

Two business men I hardly know, bought up the farm six months ago
They'll try it for a year or so, then maybe sell it on
And yet when Sundays come around, they drive their 4 by 4's from town
In smart green Barbers (Baarbours) strut around, while I just wish them gone
Chorus

I spend my days and nights alone, for I can't venture far from home
My friends just voices on the phone, at least till lambing's done
I drink too much, I'm in no doubt, I've watched the piles of bottles mount
But with a wine box I lose count, they help the weeks roll on
Chorus

But come those flowery April days, I watch my new-born lambs at play
And smile as passing walkers say, how lucky I must be
And with fresh eyes I look around, the sweet green of the Sussex Downs
For though I've sought I've never found, a better life for me
Chorus
Chorus repeat, finishing with:
I guess I'll stay a Shepherdess all on the Sussex Downs

It's a fabulous song, and the line about 'frightened eyes' and 'rescuing lambs' gets me every time. Charlotte definitely had a feel for this song when she wrote it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 15 - 03:11 AM

Thank you very much, Hil. Now, come back to the States so I can hear you sing it. I really enjoyed spending time with you here, and I like your singing.

I added the song title to your post. Did I get it correct?

If I recall correctly, Chris Skinner said the song is more-or-less a transcript of an interview of a shepherdess at an employment office. What a great song!

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: My guru always said
Date: 01 May 15 - 03:53 AM

Thanks Joe, we'll be back across the pond one day! We loved meeting & hearing so many lovely Folks & Songs!

Hadn't heard the bit about the employment office, but had heard that it was about a Shepherdess who lived in a village where we go to a Song & Ale weekend in Sussex called Upper Dicker. Hopefully Charlotte will come on the thread & give us the real story!

As to song title, I've always just called it Shepherdess, but I could be wrong. If Richard ever videos me singing it I'll pop it up on You Tube so you can hear it again. The link will be here:

Hil's You Tube stuff, close your eyes!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 May 15 - 04:43 AM

I think I once heard Charlotte introduce it by saying she'd encountered the shepherdess in the local shop (possibly stocking up on a wine box....?) - hopefully she can now find this thread to fill in the gaps!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 May 15 - 06:29 AM

Here is Charlotte (Oliver) and (Richard) Spong's website Charlotte and Spong

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me I'm Just a Shepherdess
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 May 15 - 02:52 PM

Joe - re your post of 1st May, I've now had a message from Charlotte to say that the song was inspired by an agency administration person Charlotte worked with who turned out to be a shepherdess!

She had to leave in early February because it was lambing time and Richard and Charlotte went and stayed with her and gave her a hand.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Me I'm Just a SHEPHERDESS (Oliver)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Apr 23 - 05:01 PM

Listen to Charlotte's music here: charlotteandspong.bandcamp.com - and she sang today at the Mudcat Worldwide Singaround!!