Lyr Req: Peppers and Tomatoes (Ralph McTell)

Subject: Lyr Req: Ralph McTell song 'This Little Plot...
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 05:44 AM

Heard Bob Fox (sing at Bromyard (and later a lass called Sue in Sheffield)) a stunning Ralph McTell song based on the troubles in the Balkans wit a chorus 'In this little plot of land etc' anyone got the lyrics ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ralph McTell song 'This Little Plot...
From: SunrayFC
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 07:34 AM

Peppers and tomatoes is the title.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ralph McTell song 'This Little Plot...
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 08:19 AM

And Craig Morgan Robson do a bloody good job of it - try a PM to Saro !

Subject: Lyr Add: PEPPERS & TOMATOES (Ralph McTell)
From: Saro
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 11:45 AM

Hi - thanks Leadfingers. It is indeed a wonderful song.


Here are the words I have on my PC, but I know there is one more verse. I learned it from the singing of Maggie Holland, and (allowing for the odd word here or there) I think this is what she sings. I's sure someone else can supply the other verse.
All the best
Saro

This year in my garden I grow peppers and tomatoes,
Peppers and tomatoes, they grow together well,
And my neighbours all around me they grow beans and potatoes
Cabbages and onions in this village where we dwell.

And later in the year we will bring wine to the table
Bring wine to the table, and reap what we have sown.
Like my father did before me and his father did before him
And his father did before him, we will share what we have grown.

This little patch of dirt, this little pile of stones.
I can wash the dust from off my face, and skin, But this earth is in my bones.

Military vehicles are passing through our village
Passing through our village with young soldiers ill at ease.
Unsmiling and unshaven, distrustful and uncertain
Distrustful and uncertain, and all smoking constantly.

And my neighbours say "Don't worry for you are one of us now,
You are one of us now and it will not happen here",
But the next night at the café, when I bring wine to the table,
I bring wine to the table, but they are drinking beer.

Last night the hand of friendship fell heavy on my shoulders,
Heavy on my shoulders as I turned away to go.
As I said goodnight some old men, some old men and young soldiers
Were humming tunes and singing words to songs I didn't know

This little patch of dirt, this little pile of stones
I can wash the dust from off my face and skin, But this earth is in my bones.

This morning my wife told me that she'd been to church on Sunday,
Been to church on Sunday, she had felt the need to pray.
Our children were baptised there, it was just to please the old ones,
Just to please the old ones, and I don't know what to say.

Tonight, as dark is falling, I am tending to my garden,
Tending to my garden, and the crop that I have grown.
And my car is heavy laden, soon I'll start the engine,
Soon I'll start the engine, wake the children and be gone.

I am watering my garden, when I smell the cigarette smoke,
Smell the cigarette smoke, and I turn round in the dust
And I see the glint of rifles, but I cannot see the faces
But I recognise the voices that say, "You must come with us".

Oh this little patch of dirt, oh this little pile of stones
I can wash the dust from off my face and skin, But this earth is in my bones.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ralph McTell song 'This Little Plot...
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:50 AM

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ralph McTell song 'This Little Plot...
From: SunrayFC
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:50 AM

there is a super "youtube" show of this

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ralph McTell song 'This Little Plot...
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 02:06 PM

The missing verse comes after 'soon I'll start the engine, wake the children and be gone'

It is:
'My shotgun it is loaded
And it's hidden in the cabin
It's hidden in the cabin
And the evening's growing chill
My mouth is dry my hands are moist
And if someone tries to stop me
I am ready now to kill'

(Then the chorus is sung before the last verse.)

I can only guess it's been left out because someone thinks it's too violent or bloodthirsty - but this is a song intended to make us think about the insane brutality of ethnic cleansing, so the idea of softening the song & it's message in any way seems a little odd to me.