Lyr Req: I Have No Time (Bert Jansch)

Subject: Lyr Req: I Have No Time/Bert Jansch
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 08:51 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics for this old Bert Jansch song which dates back to the early 1960's, his Pleistocene Period. Some words to the first verse that I remember go:

I have no time to spend with you,
You talk of nothing, what can I do,
You live like kings and you know it's true,
That if a famine crossed the water,
It would be the end of you...

Thanks,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Have No Time/Bert Jansch
From: GUEST,guest mick
Date: 22 Jan 04 - 09:13 AM

Hope this helps. I could never quite work out the last line of second verse ,try mumbling :
I've heard of people who till the earth /who sow their seeds for what they're worth/ who cry for rain all summer long /then weep for the dearth (?) when winters past and gone.
So drink your fill be happy now /the times will change and you'll wonder how /a man could die for want of food /but you don't give a damn/no reason why you should

Subject: Lyr Add: I HAVE NO TIME (Bert Jansch)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 04 - 09:14 AM

Here is my memory of it - I have it in the BJ songbook at home, but I'm at work at the moment:


I HAVE NO TIME
(Bert Jansch)

I have no time to spend with you
You talk of nothing what can you do
You live like Kings and you know its true
That if famine crossed the water it would be the end of you

I know of people who till the Earth
Who sow their seed for what its worth
They pray for rain all summer long
And weep for the day when Winters past and gone

If cherry trees bore fruit of gold
The birds would die their wings would fold
They'd sing no more their song of love
Nor wake the morning Sun that lights the sky above

If war returns like it did before
A kiddy's penny would be no more
They'd cry for love and their candy too
But a kiddy's wants are nothing 'til killing days are through

So eat(drink) your fill be happy now
The times will change and you'll wonder how
A man could die from lack of food
But you don't give a damn
No reason why you should

Repeat first verse


Roger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Have No Time/Bert Jansch
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jan 04 - 09:25 AM

Thanks, Roger. That looks correct to me.

Now that I see the words again, I feel an irristible urge to edit it back to three verses. The first verse is the strongest and the third verse seems a keeper. I'm less sure of the others.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Have No Time/Bert Jansch
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Jan 04 - 10:09 AM

Here is a collection of Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and Stefan Grossman's guitar scores with lyrics, including "I Have No Time."

Subject: Lyr Add: I HAVE NO TIME (Bert Jansch)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 07:46 AM

What I remember is slightly different:

I HAVE NO TIME
(Bert Jansch)

I have no time to spend with you
You talk of nothing, what can you do,
You live like Kings and you know it's true
That if famine crossed the water, that would be the end of you

I know of people who till the earth
Who sow their seed for what it's worth
Who pray for rain all summer long
And weep for their dead when winter's past and gone

If cherry trees bore fruit of gold
The birds would die, and their wings would fold.
They'd sing no more their song of love
to wake the morning Sun that lights the sky above

If war returns, like it did before,
A kiddy's penny would be no more
They'd cry for love and their candy too
But a kiddy's wants are nothing 'til killing days are through

So eat(drink) your fill be happy now
The times will change and you'll wonder how
A man could die from lack of food
But you don't give a damn
and there's no reason why you should