Lyr Req: Lapwing's Feather (Graeme Miles)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Lapwings Feather Martin Wyndham Reed
From: GUEST,Shanty Kees
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 03:06 PM

A friend of mine tries to find the words for "The Lapwing's Feather". The song is by Graeme Miles and is also sung by Martin Wyndham Read. Is there anybody who can help? Thanks in advance.

Kees

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lapwings Feather Martin Wyndham R
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 04:17 PM

Might PM somebody in this thread...CLICK!

Subject: Lyr Add: LAPWING'S FEATHER (Graeme Miles)
From: bfdk
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 06:16 PM

Transcribed from Martyn Wyndham-Read's CD "Beyond the red horizon" (Fellside Recordings FECD146) - Great CD ;-)

The Lapwing's Feather
(Graeme Miles)

Summer's passed into the winter
The tired old sun is late to rise
Frosty edgings on my window
The streams are silent under the ice
The trees are stark, the sky is clouded
Hard the clay beneath my feet
The fields with rook* and crow are crowded
Year is all but over

Your spring was sweet, your spring was gentle
The winds of March and April's rain
Soothed my brow when I was troubled
And I was boyish once again
I gave my love a lapwing's feather
And she kissed me in return
Down by the burn we'd walk together
Oh, the year was youthful then

Came the summer, such a summer
Sunfilled days, lovefilled nights
Speckled shadows among the willows
Every hour new delights
And oh, such joy when I was with her
Arm in arm, hand in hand
But golden days dulled into silver
Now the year was ageing

Goodbye old year, you're now behind me
I'll often think of you and smile
For all in all you tread me kindly
Brought me love, though just for a while

Came the autumn, sad sad autumn
When pale mists hung above the corn
In my heart a chill was creeping
A warning of the coming storm
And oh, such loving I did give her
Then she turned and went away
And as the leaves began to wither
I saw the year was dying

Now the winter, bleak December
At my door, the swirling squall
Flickering flames and glow'ring embers
Shadows dancing on the wall
And in my mind I hear her laughter
Fade upon the sighing wind
I think of her, my heart beats faster
Now the year is past and gone

Goodbye old year, you're now behind me
You've gone your way, I'll go mine
Both joy and sadness you've left inside me
You brought me love, though for a short time


* It sounds like "roak", but in the context rook makes more sense, except if roak is another word for that bird.

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lapwings Feather Martin Wyndham Reed
From: GUEST,Shanty Kees
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 02:23 PM

Bente, Sorcha,

Thank you very much for your help. I really appreciate it and my friend will be very pleased with these words. Thanks again.

Kees

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lapwing's Feather (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 05:31 AM

I think it is actually "frosty etchings" rather than "edgings" in the third line.
It's a great singer!

Subject: Lyr Add: LAPWING'S FEATHER (Graeme Miles)
From: The Doctor
Date: 25 Aug 18 - 04:31 AM

The words as printed in Graeme's book 'Songscapes' are as follows:

v.1 The summer's passed into the winter
    The tired old sun is late to rise
    Frosty etchings on my window
    The streams are silent under the ice
    The trees are stark, the sky is clouded
    Hard the clay beneath my feet
    The fields with rook and crow are crowded
    The year is all but over.
    Goodbye old year you're now behind me
    I'll often think of you and smile
    For all in all you tret(sic) me kindly
    You brought me love though just for a while.
   
v.2 Your spring was sweet, your spring was gentle
    The winds of March and April's rain
    Soothed my brow when I was troubled
    And I was boyish once again
    I gave my love a lapwing's feather
    And she kissed me in return
    Beside the burn we walked together
    And the year was youthful then.
    Goodby old year.....

v.3 Come the summer, such a summer,
    Sun filled days and love filled nights.
    Speckled shadows among the willows
    Every hour a new delight.
    Oh such joy when I was with her
    Arm in arm and hand in hand
    But golden days dulled into silver
    For now the year was ageing.
    Goodbye old year.....

v.4 Came the autumn, sad, sad autumn
    When pale mist hung above the corn
    In my heart a chill was creeping
    A warning of the coming storm
    Oh such loving I did give her
    But then she turned and went her way
    And as the leaves began to wither
    I saw the year was dying.
    Goodbye old year.....

v.5 Now the winter, bleak December
    At my door a swirling squall
    Flickering flames and glowing embers
    Shadows dancing on the wall
    In my mind I hear her laughter
    Faint upon the sighing wind
    I think of her, my hear beats faster
    But now the year has passed and gone
    Goodbye old year you're now behind me
    You've gone your way I'll go mine
    Both joy and sadness you've left inside me
    You brought me love though for a short time.

This is the closest you are likely to get to an 'official' version. What Martyn sings will almost certainly vary from this, and probably from performance to performance. Such is the folk process. Don't worry too much about it. The important thing is to sing the song.