Lyr Req: The Backward King (Pete Morton)

Subject: the king walked backwards
From:
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 09:55 AM

can anyone help identify this song, and where it may find it sung and recorded (who by)?

The lyrics as far as i can remember are:

The king walked backwards day and night
he said you went left when you should have gone right
he said he was right when you knew he was wrong
the king walked backwards all day/night long

please help me!!

Thanks

Subject: RE: Help: the king walked backwards
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 05:47 AM

Is there anyone out there who can help with this?

Subject: RE: Help: the king walked backwards
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 08:56 AM

Subject: RE: Help: the king walked backwards
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 04:48 PM

I think this may be one of Pete Morton's early songs.

Subject: RE: Help: the king walked backwards
From: Ed.
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 06:02 PM

Yes, it's a Pete Morton song, 'The Backwards King' It's on his first album Frivolous Love

Whether Bill is still waiting for an answer nearly three years on is a different matter though...

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BACKWARD KING (Pete Morton)
From: cetmst
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 06:56 PM

Transcribed from a cassette I made from a radio program, probably Mary Cliff's Traditions, male singer ? Pete Morton, who titles his song

"The Backward King"

A mountain stands at the side of the town;
It reaches high into the clouds;
People hear the tales going round
Of a very old king working upside down.
Some people say that he's no longer there
But a very old song has never disappeared.

Cho. The king works backward day and night;
He says you went left when you should have gone right.
Try to undo what you once done wrong
And the king works backwards all day long.

Well some swear blind (?) they've seen his house;
They're absolutely sure that it's upside down,
The chimneys ponting into the ground
And the floorboards creak where the roof should be.
Always walking backwards it's a wonder he can see
But with his eyes wide open he sleeps on his head
Either underneath or at the bottom of the bed.

Cho.

Well the town grew big and the town grew tall
With machinery and smoke came the urban sprawl.
There's very few believing that he's living any more
But I'm pretty sure he's behind his door
Sweating (?) in his palace, sweeping in his hall,
Pacing backwards up the corridor.
One day his dreadful tears will fall,
Will fall, will fall on one and all.

Cho.

When the rumors hit the town that the king had died
His tears started flowing down the mountain side
But at the foot of the flood came a note that read
"Time's running out but I ain't dead yet".

Cho.

Now what does it refer to ? It's been on my list of queries to submit

Subject: RE: Help: the king walked backwards
From: cetmst
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 08:10 AM

Last line ? "Time's running out but I ain't yet dead" makes it rhyme.

Subject: RE: Help: the king walked backwards
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 08:37 AM

tune?

Subject: RE: Help: the king walked backwards
From: mack/misophist
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 12:43 AM

I can't put a finger on it, but it feels to me like one of William Morris's fairy tales. I know I read the storey somewhere but I can't remember the details.

Subject: RE: Help: the king walked backwards
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 03:21 AM

Although having heard the song by Pete many times I don't recall him mentioning the backgroung but when misiphist mentioned William Morris then, being Walthamstow based where we have the William Morris Gallery, my interest peaked so entering "William Morris King Backwards" into a search engine brought this page up William Morris which doesn't seem to contain the actual story but (to save you digging all the way through the page) It refers to a great Icelandic hero who could (and I quote)

"He was the best shot with the bow of all men, and never missed his mark. He could leap more than his own height, with all his war gear, and as far backwards as forwards."

So there may be something in it, I'll dig about further but Pete is at Sidmouth in a couple of weeks time so it may be easier to wait and I'll ask him there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Backward King (Pete Morton)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 01:52 PM

Hi Lydia

I will send you the Pete Morton tape.
love
dad
xx