Here's a new song I wrote today, after a weekend at Moreton Midsummer, a village celebration a few miles from where I live which has welcomed a sizeable and growing folk presence over the years, without turning from being being a village celebration into becoming a folk festival.

I think it's self explanatory, though you never can tell. The old Public Entertainment Licence issue makes its appearance in the second verse. Anyway, I thought I'd share it with the catfolks.

As we keep the old music alive

Well there's her and there's him and there's me and there's you,
and we do what we can and we do what we do,
and somehow it seems there are always a few,
trying to keep the old music alive.
And it's once we were young but the years they have rolled
in this world where the secret of life's bought and sold
and we play the old tunes where the stories are told,
as we keep the old music alive.
But away with all your cares now,
the world will pass us by,
as we sing on down the years now,
and the music will not die.

There's a session tonight in the Bell or the Crown,
and one way or another the word get's around,
but there's no music licence, so we keep the noise down,
while we're keeping the music alive.
And we sing and we play and we have the odd drink,
till the barman says "Boys, it's getting late don't you think?" -
but he pulls close the curtains, and he tips us a wink,
and we keep the old music alive.
But away with all your cares now,
the world will pass us by,
as we sing on down the years now,
and the music will not die.

And every now and again there's a fete or a fair,
with a whole congregation of friends gathered there,
and we all take our part and we all take our share,
as we keep the old music alive.
And the street stands and stares as the dancers parade,
and the years slip away and we are not afraid
and the glory of England is bravely displayed
as we keep the old music alive.
But away with all your cares now,
the world will pass us by,
as we sing on down the years now,
and the music will not die.

14th July 2002

By "the glory of England", of course, I mean Morris dancing. As it happens, there's a team called England's Glory, though they weren't one of the many sides who were at Moreton today.

Anyway, I'll stick a sound file of the song up, when I can. (I can't manage the dots; the chords are here with the song on this website of mine, though chords aren't much use without a tune.)