The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #105200 Message #2164976
Posted By: Big Al Whittle
06-Oct-07 - 05:49 AM
Thread Name: songs on emigration
Subject: ADD: The Setting (Ralph McTell)
As a dumb guitarist I think I would pick Ralph Mctell's The Setting as my favourite
THE SETTING (Ralph McTell)
I will never forget oh the walk to the station Me with your suitcase being brotherly strong And just trying to make light of this whole situation In light conversation we moved through the throng
And above all the roar of the town was the blue sky I could hear the birds singing for the joy of the day There was no support for the city forthcoming No sympathy numbing you going away And its so hard to say goodbye
There was you with your bright eyes and best dress for travelling Me in my work clothes unshaven and so plain Oh I fully intended to put in the half day But my good intention went with you / on the train
So I never looked back as the train left the station Crossed over the road and walked into the park It was there in the bar some old man was singing And I sat there drinking until it got dark
Outside the trees they grew starlings like apples Their hustle and chatter not dampened by the rain That washed down the pavement into the gutter Soaked through my clothes as I set out again So hard to say goodbye
And above me the stars were all hidden by rain clouds The songs of the old man still locked in my brain Oh of emigration the curse of our nation The setting now fitting his sad sweet refrain So hard to say goodbye