|
23 May 05 - 10:47 PM (#1491679) Subject: Lyr Req: Saints and Strangers (Chris Stuart) From: GUEST,Stranger Here Myself Hi all, As the thread title says, I'm trying to find the lyrics to Saints and Strangers, which was the title cut of a 2003 CD which I don't own. Heard the song on the radio and cannot get it out of my head. From what I've read, the title is from a 1940s book, also titled Saints and Strangers, that describes the voyage of the Pilgrims to America. There were, I gather, two very distinct groups on board, a group of religious folk, who called themselves Saints, and non-believers or different-believers, who the Saints referred to as Strangers. They supposedly didn't want much to do with each other, but once on these shores they had to band together or die. (I may have all of this a bit wrong, though.) At any rate, right or wrong telling, the song made a deep impression on me. Lyrics appreciated, With kind regards, Stranger |
|
23 May 05 - 11:32 PM (#1491680) Subject: Lyr Add: SAINTS AND STRANGERS (Chris Stuart) From: open mike Liner notes: In 1620, 102 settlers left England for America on the Mayflower. Fewer than half of those aboard referred to themselves as "saints" they called the others "strangers." SAINTS AND STRANGERS (6:18) by Chris Stuart Back Country Music On a cold and cloudless English morning As they led me to the gallows tree 20 shillings had I in my pocket For to pay the hangman's fee Then I heard a stranger ask the sheriff If I'd ever sailed upon the sea I replied if I should see the morrow Then a sailor I would be So they rode me to a ship at anchor Smaller than the damned South Hampton jail And the crewman(?) shouted from the fo'castle For America we sail CHORUS We are travellers in a fragile vessel Ever waiting for the sparrow's call Passing only for the moment Saints and strangers are we all Saints and strangers are we all As the ship listed from the harbor And I felt the cold Atlantic spray Then I knew I had exchanged a coffin For the ocean's open grave No gold or spices did we carry No human contraband or rum(?) Just a crew and a congregation Singing hymns and a sacred songs I preferred the shanties of the sailors And I learned to haul the mast and jib They would ask me was I saint or stranger But no answer would I give CHORUS In a dream I walked a barren desert Til I lost my way upon the land There i found the broken masted Mayflower Buried in the sand On the bow sprit was a faded maiden Fairer than the western wind was she But she wept for all the saints and strangers Til her tears became the sea Then i felt the ocean close around me In cold Poseiden's debt,death(?) I hung Til i woke to the watchman's voice shouting To america we've come CHORUS |
|
24 May 05 - 04:23 PM (#1492251) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saints and Strangers (Chris Stuart) From: open mike thank you stranger, you are a saint to bring this song up i am glad i had the c.d. and was ablt to catch the lyrics by listening to this repeatedly..now it is lapping at the shores of my brain... |
|
25 May 05 - 11:36 PM (#1493384) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saints and Strangers (Chris Stuart) From: Jim Dixon The book referred to is by George F. Willison, copyright 1945. Although it's out of print now, it must have been very popular, because I have often seen copies at used book sales, flea markets, etc. I have a copy myself, picked up at one of those sales, but I've never got around to reading it. The full title is: "Saints and Strangers: Being the Lives of the Pilgrim Fathers & Their Families, with Their Friends & Foes; & an Account of Their Posthumous Wanderings in Limbo, Their Final Resurrection & Rise to Glory, & the Strange Pilgrimages of Plymouth Rock." |
|
31 May 05 - 01:39 AM (#1496508) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saints and Strangers (Chris Stuart) From: open mike hard enough just to read the (entire) title!! |