Saw Chris Wood recently and when he played this his introduction to the song included a (as he put it) little one verse "country" version. He said he had been asked for permission to use his version by a couple who were fed up of unsolicited requests from semi retired bankers wanting to buy their ranch. He did say that their version was up on youtube but I couldn't find it. In terms of the sentiments expressed I think it chimes a lot with Imagined Village updated Hard Times of Old England? For five generations my family have farmed By horse and by tractor by hoe and by hand But that won't stave of the banks latest demand Singing oh the hard times of old England Time was I could sell all I grew at the shop Then Tesco turned up all of that had to stop Now I can't make a living out of my crop Singing oh the hard times of old England More and more of our village gets sold every day To folks from the city who seem happy to pay For their holiday cottage to stand empty all day Singing oh the hard times of old England The Countryside Alliance expects I suppose Our support as they're marching to bloody Blair's nose But they said not a word when our post office closed Singing oh the hard times of old England The hedgerows my grandfather tended have gone And with them the lapwing and the corncrakes sad song And I fear I'll be following on before long Singing oh the hard times of old England And now to conclude and to finish my song; Let's hope that these hard times they will not last long, And I may soon have occasion for to alter my song Singing oh the good times of old England In old England very good times This last verse is one I tag into the sbove version when I play it Well our local has turned into a 'gastro pub' Armani and Prada, like a city boys club Now the beers too expensive for us to keep up Singing oh the hard times of old England
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