The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #124995   Message #2765339
Posted By: alanabit
13-Nov-09 - 11:17 AM
Thread Name: Lyr/Chord Req: Worm Forgives the Plough (Boazman)
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord Req: The worm forgives the plough
I saw this one a bit late. Yes, it is by Bill Boazman and it is a good example of what is so special about him. A pat on the back for Joe, who has correctly identified the Blake quote, which gives the song its title. Bill got the idea from a book of the same title and from a time in his life when he worked on a farm in Cornwall. Johnny Coppin recorded this song on "Roll On Dreamer", for which it opened the second side (back in the days of LPs). Paul Downes also recorded it (on "Still Life", I believe) back in the seventies. Good as those recordings are, nothing comes close to the stark beauty and grace of Bill's own version, which was recorded in the Sun Studios in Reading. Sadly that was only ever made available to a few friends along with three other stunning tracks.
Bill no longer performs either this, or any other of his wonderful songs, preferring to develop into an ever finer guitarist. He is a smashing guitarist, but you will forgive me for hoping that he one day writes and sings some more of his own songs.
I can look this up later, but I think that last line should read "The harvest is inside". I think also that line one in verse two should be, "Early in the evening as clouds thicken in the sky", Otherwise, that is a pretty good transcription from Joe.