Lyr Req: Wandering the King's Highway (L Coward)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wandering the King's Highway (L Coward)
From: GUEST,Geoffrey Hasemer
Date: 24 Dec 17 - 11:15 AM

Yes, that's the version we learned at Wembley Downs Primary School in Perth in the late 1960's. Other songs in the book (or maybe this is over a couple of years) were The Ash Grove, Barbara Allen, The Spinning Wheel, Scarborough Town, Camptown Ladies, Song of the Clyde, The King's Highway, The Recessional, Song of Australia, Scotland the Brave, Loch Lomon, Over the Sea to Skye, and various others. My sisters (after me) learned Gypsy Rover but I don't think that was in the book when we went through. I think we heard Puff the Magic Dragon, Scottish Soldier, What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor, Hello Muddah Hello Faddah, The Unicorn, The Orange and the Green and Jamaica Farewell on the radio. One very colonial / British patriotic song which I can find no reference now to had something like the following lyrics (first verse only). It was originally a poem I believe later put to song, in a rather forced fit to an uncertain melody in my personal view:


It fits not with unseemly grace to hymn our ancient state
But with due thankfulness at heart
For those who bore the sterner part and made our empire great
Their sons today need take no shame to magnify their fathers' name

From their heritage in England
From home, tranquility and ease
Stout and bold our fathers of old
Sailed forth to unknown seas

Through the deserts and the mountains
By tracks inscrutable, unseen
Shake the sky with one united cry
"One faith, one realm, one queen"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wandering the King's Highway (L Coward)
From: GUEST,Anthony Postle
Date: 20 Dec 17 - 09:30 PM

This is the version we were taught at school in 1962.

I've always been a rover,
Summer and winter too.
Wandering the wide world over,
Tramping my whole life through.
But when I start my journey
At the dawn of another day,
I give a health to comrades,
Pals of the King's Highway.

Chorus:
So long to you, gotta be on the road again,
So long to you, gotta hitch up my load again.
It's been great to meet you here,
Right good company, right good cheer.
Now then my lads, anyone like to come with me,
A wanderers life is free.
I can say, night and day
Nothing ever worries me.
Nights are cold,
Maybe I am growing old!
Yet I thrive,
And the pals I meet, make it good to be alive.
Comrades farewell, what if we never meet again,
The memory will stay.
As I go, rain or snow,
Wandering the King's highway.

Parting is filled with sorrow
But as I roam the land,
I shall meet again tomorrow
Friend who will take my hand
So with the sun to greet me
As the darkness is turned to day,
I and my friendly memories
Start out upon our way.

[Chorus]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wandering the King's Highway (L Coward)
From: GUEST,Peter Sherlock
Date: 15 Nov 16 - 11:44 AM

Robyn' version above is correct.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wandering the King's Highway (L Coward)
From: GUEST,David Harris
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 05:09 AM

It may be too late re the above, however MINT RECORDS Of Emu Plains, NSW, may well have a copy of the CD by Peter Dawson in stock.

If not I can arrange a copy for you.

Cheers

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wandering the King's Highway (L Coward)
From: GUEST,Bill White
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 09:31 PM

The Peter Dawson version can be heard on YOUTUBE at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsNoiZNLFhk

Subject: Lyr Add: WANDERING THE KING'S HIGHWAY (L Coward)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 12:02 AM

Not folk but it's a stirring song from way back.
I can't remember it all but another site gives these words:

Wandering the King's Highway - L. Coward

I've always been a wanderer,
summer and winter too.
Traveling the whole world over,
tramping my whole life through.

But when I start my journey,
at the dawn of another day.

I give a health to comrades.
Friends of the great highway.

Chorus:

So, so long to you!
got to be on the road again.

So long to you!
got to hitch up my load again.

Its been great to meet you here.
right good company and right good cheer.

So now then my lads,
would anyone like to come with me?
A wanderer's life is free.
As I go, rain or snow.
Wandering the King's highway.

Parting is filled with sorrow.
But as I roam this land.
I shall meet again tomorrow.
Friends who will clasp my hand.

And when i start my journey
at the dawn of a brand new day.
I and my friendly memories.
Will get up and on our way.

Chorus:

So, so long to you!
got to be on the road again.

So long to you!
got to hitch up my load again.

Its been great to meet you here.
right good company and right good cheer.

So now then my lads,
would anyone like to come with me?
A wanderer's life is free.
As I go, rain or snow.
Wandering the King's highway.

..................................................
There's another version as well that rings bells:

I've always been a rover
Summer and winter too
Wandering the wide world over
Trekking my whole life through
But as I start my journey
At the dawn of another day
I give a health to comrades
Pals of the great highway:

So long to you
Got to be on the road again
So long to you
Got to hitch up my load again
It's been great to meet you here
Right good company, and right good cheer
Now then my lads
Anyone like to come with me
A wanderer's life is free
I can say, night and day
Nothing ever worries me.

Nights grow cold,
Maybe I'm growing old
Yet I strive
And the pals I meet make it good to be alive
Comrades farewell!
What if we never meet again
The memory will stay:
As I go, rain or snow
Wandering the King's highway.

It's the sort of song my sister and I would belt out back in the 50s.
Robyn

Subject: wandering the king's highway lyric searc
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 02:56 AM

I am trying to locate the lyrics to a Leslie Coward song, "Wandering the King's Highway" and also if anyone knows if there is an MP3 of it out there? There are sections of it that I no longer remember and it would be nice to hear it again. Thanks.