Subject: Lyr Add: Song for the New Year (Ian Robb)
From:
Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jan 22 - 02:21 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qrkwVVlF2k
SONG FOR THE NEW YEAR
(Ian Robb/P.R.O. Canada)
CHORUS
One evening so silent as I was out walking,
I spied an old woman sat down by a tree;
And as I drew nigh her, I could hear her soft talking.
These wishes she made for the child on her knee.
For the child on her knee,
For the child on her knee,
These wishes she made for the child on her knee.
First, I'll wish that in peace you may always be living,
Oh, never to kill at a sergeant's command;
For King and for country's no reason for giving
Your life and your blood in some far away land.
Some far away land ...
May you be your own master; let no man control you,
Whether tyrant of government, factory or farm.
No matter the wages they'll pay to console you,
To slavery's orders ne'er lift a strong arm.
Ne'er lift a strong arm ...
Good health be your fortune, no gift can excel it,
But guard it from those who would take it away;
In mills, mines and factories they'll force you to sell it;
For industry's profit most dearly you'll pay.
Most dearly you'll pay ••.
And the last of my hopes is for friendship and kindred,
For the love of companions is our greatest need;
And though you may live to the age of a hundred,
It's young you'll remain while friendships succeed.
While friendships succeed ...
So now, lads and lasses, come fill up your glasses
And drink a good health to our children so dear;
To peace free from classes, while history it passes;
To friends and to loved ones, a happy new year.
A happy new year ...
Notes: This took several years to reach its present form, and it is my hope that in committing it to vinyl I can abort the write and rewrite cycle, and do my bit to save our forests •..
I guess it expresses fairly well my hopes for my own kids.
Ian B.: button accordion, bass
Anne: fiddle
https://folkways.si.edu/ian-robb/rose-and-crown
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sj
