god's good earth - better neighbours - for the hundreds - badgers retreat - sparrowfall granny goes daNCING ON THURSDAYS - THE ANGELS WERE THERE FOR ME - WAKE FROM ANGELS FACES - TOPICAL TIMOTHY - THE POOR MANS SNOW

GRANNY GOES DANCING ON THURSDAYS

Granny goes dancing on Thursdays
On Wednesday she goes on the 23
To have her hair done on the cheap
At Dorothy’s
She left her handbag there once
The brown on with the loose zipper
And picnicked all the way to the shops
And back again
You should have seen her face when they told her they’d got it
She usually went with Alice
And danced with Harry Green
You know Harry
Died a couple of years ago
What do you mean you saw him last week?
You must have been dreaming old boy
Couldn’t have been Harry
They used to work at Grosvenors together
She was in the office
And he was a French polisher on pianos
And the place smelt of brasso
And life to them was as unpredictable
As an ornamental duck
Never went abroad
Couldn’t trust the food
But always went dancing on Thursdays
She said it was what kept her going
But the parkies made her cough
I told her that’s what they were there for
What did she expect them to do, tricks?
And she laughed
And her face turned up in the corners
And her rosy cheeks shone like nectarines in the sunshine
76 next June
And all me own teeth she would say
But the truth always came out in the end
We buried her last week
And it rained for a bit
But later it stopped and the sun came out
Most of her friends turned up
When you get to that age
They must wonder who’s next
Funny, I thought it’d be Jimmy
I never thought it’d be me.

1st November 1990

THE ANGELS WERE THERE FOR ME

“Today we went to a beach, and stayed there all afternoon”

“The sands here, are mainly composed of small grains of granite,
and are painful to walk on, in bare feet, for a man of my weight.”

“It’s now too hot to go on the plot, so I’ll sit and think a while and drink barley water,
like everyone oughter, who suffers a little from bile.”

He’s gone, going through the changes, befriending people you don’t wanna know.
Hard to be certain, changes come to everyone and then, you’ll go.

Chorus
I was lost, I was there for the taking, and the angels were there for me,
And they missed me around at Christmas, and wanted to be my friends.

All these gifts and drifting mines, still can’t see the warning signs,
Over the mountains and down to the shore, like the summer, you won’t last forever now.

Chorus
Were you lost, were you there for the taking, and the angels were there for me,
And to think it’s the present picture, things that could not be named.

“In the summerhouse I’m sitting, looking at a garden wall,
but in my imagination it’sa huge baronial hall,
gardens, parklands all around it,
knights and ladies wander there, and surely this

Chorus
This is it, this is dear old England, no one else could seem so fair
Though the tune hasn’t changed, gone forever
Others have been rearranged.

“A fine warm morning, and I had to make two visits to the convenience on the quayside.”

WAKE FROM ANGELS FACES

See the water, fade into sand
Satin shore against the water
Watch the moon, go trailing from mast to wave
For the exiles fade into natures dawn
Fade into nature’s dawn

I will rise from my waking hour
And wait before the day
Gently outside amongst the crane flies
As they go after me with something silent.

I watched you sleeping
Since Friday the kindness came
It’s a fading light
That makes me scar from you
Turn away from angel’s faces
There’s no trace of all the silents
Oh, keep me on the way believing
Wake from angel’s faces
Wake from angel’s faces

TOPICAL TIMOTHY

Let’s make it real, the purpose of this is to go from the front as we
let our lives run parellel dancing away from him and old
JB, Arthur and Timothy, went down, down to the Cavity
drinking, smoking, and spinning the news of the day,, Be Love

Listen to us, we’re not welcome now. It’s about prejudice you see
you don’t understand us, You don’t understand us
we’re so gentle and calm, don’t raise the alarm, come back to the farm.

Let’s hear a great big clap, for the ones who’ve made it through the gap
out of the trenches and downstream, hurry in the gully, and
topical Timothy’s made a new friend, he’s made a new friend on the
backs of the argument, now they’re going too far, but he’s got a new friend
“of course I’m your friend”

Chorus
And there’s a crowd of people, waving to you, over the rainbow
They’re smiling, their older, now, oh look at them offering their,
Gentle souls, they’re singing and dancing
It’s that man again.

It’s a ghost of the sound, look at the steam from his ears
Timothy’s sensing a reality check, cos these are the only
Brilliant minds in the world.
Oh, oh lay down your arms cos the future’s looking rosier then,
Despite the tears in their eyes, despite the steam in their ears.

Oh look at me now, look at me go , look at the flow, the flow rising up right now
We’re chasing hares, the general consencous has caught them unawares.

So don’t let them stay, they want it all and they won’t go away
And he’s bought him an island, and he sits on his own in the sunshine
We’ve been lots of shouting and screaming and talk of maybe repealing and
I’m still forever Ealing, fabulous old days in the world

THE POOR MANS’ SNOW

Well all the lights are up now and we’re still in October
And everything’s got colder just a taste of what’s to come
And all the villages are empty as people bar the shutters
And the leaves are in the gutters, better sleep till spring

Well the rich ones are all dancing on the poor folk and her children
She’s worked so hard to fill them, and keep them safe and warm
Still asking questions of the masters, but she doesn,t like the answers
And someone’s going to help the child as she leaves home today

Chorus
And soon will come the snow, and the poor man doesn’t know it’s snow
It’s just a little silver that he’s caught between his fingers
So don’t you be downhearted, cos there’s no need to suffer
and someone’s bound to help the child. As she leaves home today

Well he’s blessed with good intentions, stands so tall against the weather
He said let’s be together, kept you close when it was cold
And brought you whisky home for christmas, that made you feel unable
And chained you to the table, with a smile and walked away

You told me secrets from a distance, and we stood and watched the ocean
And the rain cut in like questions, brought the colour to your face
The face that watches from the window, remind you of your lovers
So you hide beneath the covers, and try to sleep till spring

Chorus
And soon will come the snow, and the poor man doesn’t know it’s snow
It’s just a little silver caught between his freezing fingers
And the last of all the crazy ones goes missing with his children
And the family’s going to have to do the interview today

Chorus
And soon will come the snow, and the poor man doesn’t know it’s snow
It’s just a little silver that he’s caught between his fingers
So don’t you be down hearted, mothers don’t you suffer
Cos someone’s here to help the child. Cos she came home today

Throwleigh 2000

GODS GOOD EARTH

Put the clocks back, and put on your old hat
And feel the warmer weather coming back again
The earth is calling; ah you’d better wake up now
As the signs of springtime, pushing through
God’s good brown earth

Chorus
Let’s go to the sea, spend some time with me
Wake up you sleepy person, grab that lead
And let’s go dancing down the street.
Cos if you’re lonely and scared, I will find you there
Tomorrow’s looking good to me.
No need to run it looks so fair to me.

Take the small ones, way out in the garden
Picking daises and seeing sheep for the very first time.
We are your friends now; we’re up on your table.
Nice with gravy we shall be, make sure you make the best from me.

We’ve been through difficult times, it’s time to recognise it,
Keep the spaces free, honouring our founding fathers.
We’ve been to the world and back, lazy faces waltzing,
And are dreaming of the future
We’ve got a future, dreaming, dream on

Family’s here, and family’s there
And the smiles on their faces speak to me
They’re appearing on clouds and on fences.
Let’s have a great big party, invite all your friends cos they’re arty.
Light some candles, burn them all.
Across that great divide we’ll fall.

Just put the clocks back, and put on your old hat
And feel the warmer weather in God’s good brown earth.

BETTER NEIGHBOURS

Oh! Look at me now, gliding in light, shining so bright and look at the clowns,
Over the town and they’re all unannounced and they’re out they’re faking,
You, oh look at you look at you, now, checking it out for the lonely,
On a bright sunny day, look at the clouds they’ve gone away,
Something better than this cos it’s old, and it’s old and unusual now.

Hope! Hope is a wonderful place, but you could have been looking for
Grace in the facts, hardened light and you’ll see, see that there’s clouds and they’re making it
Sunday, better neighbours now, better neighbours bow, better neighbours now.

Somebody’s broken the toast, the toast has gone cold and brown
Somebody fell on the ground, making it special today that they know,
Know that they’re dreaming of something to say, look at the people anyway.
They’re something to see when the light comes down, he’s giving it out to the town
It’s incredibly dark out there, incredibly dark anywhere, out there.

He’s dressed in his whites, cos whites are the only colour, always the same old thing
Making it bright, the bacon and egg on his head makes them stare instead
And we are on offer now.

Chorus
Look at the wonderful thing, look at him half a new brain,
Let’s sing don’t break another person on the kerb, don’t be absurd,
It’s a wonderful place to be certain you’re sad, sad, sad,
And sat on the ground.

Lionel Palairet’s place has been taken by Archie (McLaren)
They say he’s a difficult man but see what he can do
With his egg and his spoon and UHU, look at him go, look at the flow,
It’s a reamarkable thing, oh! It’s a privilege placing their armies,
They’re so indifferent to you, and come on Korty now,
It’s the old mans’ birthday party, the old mans’ birthday party.

Oh! Wonderful beard, wonderful seeker, make it true
Something’s gone right with the world today, right with the world in your eyes,
Right with the song that you sing, this better thing you are
Better neighbours now, Better neighbours bow, Better neighbours now

Dean Thatch 13th November 2004

FOR THE HUNDREDS OF SAILS

Try to be careful with this. Reminds me of something I’ve missed
Mistakes from my wandering memory sending a kiss
For the hundreds of sails, where the light never fails
I said with a glint of an eye, a last unexpected goodbye
Bathe me in softness and spring, and teach me the tune that you bring
As we fall asleep, the sleep of a slumbering child

Well there’s room at the end for the fools
And places for drunkards who fall off their stools
And children sing choruses softly, to bring you the news,
News of the very last day
Well there’s snow on your feet and there’s clouds
And history’s chosen a few of you now
And the world is a wonderful place, you can choose your own way
Sleep with me now, to the tune of the very last song

Well the madmen are ranging from babies to sages
And choices and chances are few
And the sound of the mysteries hollow and whispering now to you
And ancestral voices are giving no quarter
Blind from the light in her eyes
And the wary among us are left to discover the ruse
And the clues to his clever disguise

Well with cable and crossfire you see
It’s getting much harder to gain a decree
And people just stare at the victims who get in for free
Well you’re closer to heaven just here
Lamenting the architect standing so near
Cos he fell to earth with a fever, is perfectly clear
Clear to me now
With a smile and a wave and a tear

Well the madman are raging, it never stops raining
As you stumble your way through the crowd
And the century’s mysteries turn into victories loud, so proud
And Methodist ministers speak to their sisters, blind from the light in their eyes
And the wary among us are left to discover the ruse
And the clues to his clever disguise

So try to be gentle with her
And don’t force the lines that should never be heard
Cos this one’s much bigger than you
And all that is left is the view
Oh let me sleep
The sleep of a slumbering child
Just let me sleep
The sleep of a slumbering child

BADGERS RETREAT

“Well when I got there, there was green mould on everything.
I mean the whole thing was utterly inedible.
I tried on all sorts of funny things,
but at the end of the day it was only a piece of cheese.”

I never should have experienced something like this
To me it’s the way it is, how about you? You?
you never should have experienced something like this
though it’s easy to ve the same
all of it’s poop. POOP………………..

It’s the sort of sonversation you have with someone who simply won’t liste.
“Now then, stop that, we won’t have that…………………….
“ and it doesn’t matter how often you say it, it’s always the same thing etc……..
“and you can go in the other room and play with your things
RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!……………….”

“Straight!, it’s not the only way to be, sometimes I can go upside down as often as I like.
I can climb under the bedclothes, and I can do well……..almost anything really.”

Oh! I’m as wise as an Aberdeen Angus you see, look at me.
I’m forever gliding around, like a duck out of luck, all muck around you.
And if your dad doesn’t like it, make sure you’ve told him to see how you’ve found it
And then go out in the fields, take the ball and dive in the street and the
Cows come round you and don’t let you fall, cos your friends gone to
Parties without you, nothing can serve you well,
Anything there than yourself cos you’re always in love oh
Love is a wonderful thing.
Tickety Tonk.

Well I’m not frightened of them and neither was my father.
They all formed a circle and then just started mooing.
Tickety Tonk. Tickety Tonk.

Oh badger my lad, what did you see today?
Was it a wonderful place to be seen?
What did they say when you went to the dentist today?

“I’ve got a crown, I’m lonely and I’ll let you down,
don’t see me as some kind of saviour in all of the town.
Oh not me, no not me, children see, oh love is wonderful thing.”

Hick Hack Hock, money made, why won’t it stop?

Look out, here comes the big one again!!!!!!!!!!

“I am not a savage, I shall not do it.”

Dean Thatch 14th December 2004

SPARROWFALL

One by one they drift
Downwards, spiralling
Tiny crystals and fluttering feathers
Through channelling winds trhey are with us
Smiling
And singing through the winter sunshine
Take me to where the warmth is
Because I am happy when you are here
When you go
The loneliness is too hard
But still they go
And I die with gladness

21st October 1990

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Paul Whittall and Goliards

Stroking Bees & Chasing Hares the complete lyrics

god's good earth - better neighbours - for the hundreds - badgers retreat - sparrowfall granny goes daNCING ON THURSDAYS - THE ANGELS WERE THERE FOR ME - WAKE FROM ANGELS FACES - TOPICAL TIMOTHY - THE POOR MANS SNOW