Roll on the Day (Allan Taylor)

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Roll on the Day (Allan Taylor)

22 Jan 99 - 09:10 PM (#55281)
Subject: Roll on the Day
From: JFF,III

Does anyone know where I can find the lyrics to the song, "Roll on the Day" as sung by the Clancy Bros. and Robbie O'Connell in their album, OLDER BUT NO WISER? Thanks for your help. John

23 Jan 99 - 11:22 AM (#55345)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: skw@worldmusic.de

If you're talking about Allan Taylor's wonderful song, I'll bring it in on Monday. It's also on one of his recent CDs (can't remember what it's called) and in his songbook (available only from himself, I'm afraid). Try his website
http://www.allantaylor.com/
Susanne

08 Feb 99 - 11:34 AM (#57645)
Subject: Lyr Add: ROLL ON THE DAY (Allan Taylor)^^
From: skw@worldmusic.de

I posted these lyrics some days ago, then I fell ill. They seem to have got lost in Mudcat's wonderful metamorphosis so here they are again. - Susanne

ROLL ON THE DAY
(Allan Taylor)

Chorus:
Roll on the morning, roll on the day
I hear the old man softly praying, Roll on the day

As the dawn comes creeping, roll on the day
Another night not sleeping, roll on the day

Praying for another day, roll on the day
When it comes it wastes away, roll on the day

Every night you fight for breath, roll on the day
It hurts so bad you wish for death, roll on the day

Another long and sleepless night, roll on the day
Staring at the naked light, roll on the day

From Allan Taylor's songbook, p 87:
[1997:] I wrote this song about an old man called Henry Johnson. I would occasionally visit Henry in his high-rise apartment in Leeds for what reason I'm not really sure; he seemed to derive little pleasure from my visit and I always left extremely depressed. Henry was typical of men who have spent their working lives in factories and coal mines in that he had breathed so much bad air, coal dust and general pollution that breathing had become difficult and painful. I would find him during the day trying to sleep sitting in an upright chair leaning against the wall, because that was the only way he could breathe. The nights were a torment to him; when he lay down he could not sleep as his breathing was so laboured. He used to tell me how he would lie awake and say to himself, "Roll on the day, roll on the bloody day". For foreign readers I should explain that this expression has two meanings; the first, literal meaning is a way of wishing the day to come quickly. The second, less obvious meaning is a way of wishing for the day to come quickly, when it's finally over, which is in fact wishing for death. Henry certainly wanted death to come quick as he would very often ask me if I could bring a revolver for him so he could shoot himself.
A few days after he died I sat at the piano and thought of the things he had said. The phrase "Roll on the day" kept coming back to me, and over the course of only a couple of hours the song was written.
I've performed this song regularly all over Europe, but the most poignant and powerful renditions, in terms of audience involvement have been in the Yorkshire and Durham mining areas. To hear the voices of a hundred members of a folk club, singing with such passion about a problem they are intimately familiar with is indeed a moving experience.
Note: I wrote a fourth verse for this song but forgot to sing it when I recorded it. [See above]

Click to play

08 Feb 99 - 12:07 PM (#57654)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: Barbara

Anyone post a tune?

Click to play

08 Aug 05 - 06:16 AM (#1537396)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: GUEST

08 Aug 05 - 06:18 AM (#1537397)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: GUEST,Wim Biesheuvel

Good morning to you.
As a shantysinger of The Leeuwarder Shantykoor in Holland, I'm searching for a midi file for the song mentioned above.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks very much
Greetings
Wim

08 Aug 05 - 06:20 AM (#1537398)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: GUEST,Wim Biesheuvel

By the way, my email adress is w.biesheuvel@chello.nl
So any contributions to my appeal for a midi file will be welcome.
Wim

08 Aug 05 - 05:05 PM (#1537927)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: Susanne (skw)

Wim, welcome to the Mudcat. If you become a member you could exchange personal messages with other members without your eMail address. I'm sure someone will come up with a midi shortly.

09 Aug 05 - 01:42 AM (#1538174)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: Joe Offer

Hmmmm. I don't know why that file isn't available at Mudcat MIDIs. I put it in line for another upload when MIDI FTP gets fixed, and I e-mailed a copy of the file to Wim.
-Joe Offer-

09 Aug 05 - 04:16 AM (#1538214)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: GUEST,Betsy

Hiya Wim ,

I'll be very surprised if my old mate ( and probably yours ) Dave Tierney up in Sneek ( Snits ) can't get his hands on something for you .
Best o'luck to you all up in Friesland .

02 Sep 24 - 06:30 PM (#4207844)
Subject: RE: Roll on the Day
From: Joe Offer

joe - fix