Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)

Subject: Lyr Req: Loneliness -never far behind me,
From: MuddleC
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 06:51 AM

Howdy folks,
I remember hearing this sung by a mudcatter at Bedworth last year, and wonder if the full lyrics are available.. here is the partial song about a Shepherd on a hill:

....long dark shadows
Though winter is the worst of all
When the fell is swept by snow and squall
I huddle by the dry stone wall
Loneliness grows up beside me

Loneliness -never far behind me
Loneliness -hand in hand beside me

And now the year has almost run
And I look back at all I've done
I turn and........

Is it a 'trad' or recently penned??

Subject: Lyr Add: SHEPHERD ON THE HILL (Graeme Miles)
From: Richard Spencer
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 07:42 AM

Its a song by Graeme Miles, written about 1965. These are the words as I (try to) sing them

I am a shepherd on the hill
By yonder burn I drink my fill
And come what may and come what will
The loneliness will always find me
I know every stone upon the fell
And every twisted route as well
And when I have a tale to tell
The loneliness will always listen

Loneliness, oh loneliness,
Never far behind me
Loneliness oh loneliness
Hand in hand, beside me

Each morning at the break of day
Just as the skies are turning grey
Up yonder ridge I make my way
Where loneliness is waiting for me
And when at night and all is still
As the mist comes creeping down the hill
Upon my cheek I feel a chill
And the loneliness taps me on my shoulder.

When comes the spring and all is new
And the first green shoots are sprouting through
And the lamb is prancing round the ewe
The loneliness will smile and beckon
Summer days are long and warm
Around my head the swallows swarm
And I lay to rest among the corn
And loneliness lies down beside me

In autumn days are drawing in
And the dying sun shines pale and thin
I feel a tingle on my skin
And the loneliness casts a long dark shadow
The winter is the worst of all
When the fell is swept by snow and squall
I huddle by a dry stone wall
And loneliness curls up beside me

When at last the time does come
And all my working days are done
I turn and find I have no-one
Loneliness my sole companion
I am a shepherd of the hills
By yonder burn I drink my fill
And come what may and come what will
Loneliness will always find me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Loneliness -never far behind me,
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 09:37 AM

Thanks very much for the lyrics, Richard.


Occasionally our band does a gig, and sometimes I show the audience a tin whistle and say, "Imagine that you are a shepherd or a teenager, and you have the job of watching a herd, all alone, day after day. And there's nothing between you and insanity but this little penny whistle."

Then we play some haunting airs.

In the Alps, it was common to send a young person (male or female) up to the mountain meadows with the family cows, there to stay alone all summer. It has just occurred to me that yodeling may be the equivalent of penny-whistle playing. It's cheap, it's complicated, and it helps pass the lonely hours.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Loneliness -never far behind me,
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 09:45 AM

I've looked but no luck. Does anybody know a place to hear the melody?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Loneliness -never far behind me,
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 09:51 AM

leeneia- Archie Fisher recorded it on his "Windward Away" album, but I don't see his version online.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Loneliness -never far behind me,
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 09:55 AM

The melody and words are reproduced in full in the fabulous book (Soundscapes) which contains a mere selection of Graeme Miles' songs - and there's a definitive recording on Martyn Wyndham-Read's CD Sunlit Plains (Fellside FECD. 102). Absolutely magnificent, and one Graeme's very finest songs IMHO...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: "Shepherd on the Hill" by Graeme Mil
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 10:01 AM

Yes; Graeme Miles' songbook is at the top of my list of most-wanted-songbooks.

Amazon does have at least an excerpt of the Archie Fisher recording, http://www.amazon.com/Shepherd-On-The-Hill/dp/B001BW73G0
but again, it's an album one would be well advised to also purchase.

The correct title, by the way, is "Shepherd on the Hill".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Loneliness -never far behind me,
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 11:17 AM

Thanks for the info, MorleyMan and Maeve.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Loneliness -never far behind me,
From: Richard Spencer
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 03:46 AM

Be warned though, Archie Fisher's tune ( the one I leaned) is subtly different from the one in Soundscapes that MWR sings. Both excellent though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: MuddleC
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 05:30 AM

Excellent work mudcatters!!
I am going to have to find that song book too

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 05:58 AM

It looks like one can order Graeme Miles' "Songscapes" songbook here: http://www.zyworld.com/red_scarecrow/songscapes.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Hoblander
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 03:48 PM

Bad news for those looking for Graeme & Robins book "Songscapes". They have all gone and the printers have lost the master plates, so it looks like there will be no re-print, unless someone comes up with the dosh.
Fortunately you can get Graeme's second song book " Forgotten Songs Remembered" from me at GB£12.00 plus GB£1.50 postage and packaging 1st class in the UK.FSR contains the words and music to 67 songs, many of them will be new to you.
You can also get the excellent double CD " Songs Of Ironopolis" from me for the unbelievable price of GB£12.00 plus postage and packaging 1st class in the UK. The cd has 21 songs , again some you will not have heard before, with Graeme narrating between songs. The FIRST time that one of the UK's foremost songwriters has been recorded, with his permission.
See Moorley Man's excellent cd review in Living Traditions issue No 88, cheers Dave.
We are busy with our second project, and a special to celebrate the Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge Centenary.
email me at [e-mail] for contact details and address.
regards
Kevin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: maeve
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 04:52 PM

Thank you for the update, Kevin. I'm saving up for both "Forgotten Songs Remembered" and the "Songs of Ironopolis" double cd.

Just in case someone has a spare copy of "Songscapes", I'd be interesting in buying it, too. Just send me a PM, please. These are treasures.

Kevin, do I understand correctly that your second project is also with Graeme Miles?


Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: Hoblander
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 06:16 PM

Maeve
yes Graeme is totally involved with the second project and the special for the bridge celebration.
Ironopolis Singers including Graeme will be performing "Songs of Ironopolis" at Whitby Folk Week this year on Tuesday afternoon in the Metropole.
Kevin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: maeve
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 01:12 PM

Thank you, Kevin. If I had the wings of a dove I'd fly across the ocean for that!

Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: maeve
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 06:32 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 09:03 PM

You could always try the EFDSS.

They have just given Graeme their gold badge so they must know something about him - or not!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: maeve
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 06:48 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,jimbo
Date: 03 Oct 13 - 04:50 AM

I have a spare copy of Songscapes the present amazon price is £300
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 03 Oct 13 - 10:57 AM

Thanks. I'll bear that in mind.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHEPHERD ON THE HILL (from Archie Fisher)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 12:57 AM

Note that Archie Fisher omits a verse from the above version. I have boldfaced the other differences:

SHEPHERD ON THE HILL
As sung by Archie Fisher on "Windward Away" (2008)

1. I am a shepherd on the hill.
By yonder burn I drink my fill,
And, come what may and come what will,
The loneliness will always find me.
I know every rock upon the fell,
And every twisted root* as well,
And when I have a tale to tell,
The loneliness will always listen.

CHORUS: Loneliness, oh, loneliness,
Never far behind me,
Loneliness, oh, loneliness,
Hand in hand, beside me.

2. And in the spring when all is new,
And the first green shoots are growing through,
And the lamb is sporting with the ewe,
The loneliness comes over smiling.
The summer days are long and warm,
And round my hat the swallows swarm,
And I lay to rest among the corn,
And the loneliness lies down beside me.

3. Autumn days are growing dim,
And the dying sun shines pale and thin.
I feel the chill upon my skin,
And the loneliness casts long dark shadows.
The winter is the worst of all.
When the fell is swept by snow and squall,
I huddle by the dry stone wall,
And the loneliness curls up beside me.

4. And when at last the year has run,
And I look back at all I've done,
I turn and find I have no-one:
Loneliness my sole companion.
I am a shepherd on the hill.
At yonder burn I drink my fill,
And, come what may and come what will,
Loneliness will always find me.

[* Obviously, the pronunciation would be the same, but "root" makes more sense to me here than "route."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: maeve
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 07:21 AM

Nicely done, Jim.

Guest, jimbo- Thanks for the information. I can't imagine being able to spend that much. Perhaps someone else can.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,Elizabeth Block
Date: 10 Jun 22 - 03:33 PM

Also recorded by Martin Wyndham-Read.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shepherd on the Hill (Graeme Miles)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 10 Jun 22 - 05:46 PM

Martyn (with a y!) did a whole CD of Graeme's songs: I guess it's on that one? Fabulous album! Title track "Where Ravens Feed": on Fellside recordings, came out in 2001.