Dancing Under the Rose Quoted bit

Subject: RE: Dancing Under the Rose Quoted bit
From: BDenz
Date: 17 Aug 15 - 06:27 PM

Thank you!

Subject: RE: Dancing Under the Rose Quoted bit
From: GUEST,DaveRo
Date: 17 Aug 15 - 06:15 PM

It's on 'By Gloucester Docks I Sat Down and Wept' 1986. The female reader is Marylyn Cutts (Polly Bolton sings).

On the sleeve notes Ashley gives sources for some of the poetry (Elizabeth Smart, Shakespeare), but not that bit, and says "nearly all the other words are by me".

Subject: Dancing Under the Rose Quoted bit
From: BDenz
Date: 17 Aug 15 - 04:46 PM

In Ashley Hutchings' Dancing Under The Rose (on one of his albums and on an Albion Band album), there is a quoted bit (not sung). Nowhere is the meaning/history of that bit to be found. Help. Is it out of English history/literature? The Albion Band recording SOUNDS like it's spoken by Dame Judy Dench.

(SPOKEN)
It took many years of labour to build this fort, to arm it and guard it, furnish and stock it, repair and retrench it. It took one bottle to send it crashing to the ground.
It took many years of patience to build this garden, to prepare it and plant it, water and tend it, stake it and prop it. It took one gust of wind to blow it all away.
It took many years of inactivity to fall asleep, to turn out the light, extinguish the flame, embrace the dark night. It took one princely kiss to open those eyes again.

Thanks in advance.