Track 1 SEVEN WARNINGS ( Pete & Chris Coe)
As through the city I was riding
O believe me these words are true
In golden towers the rich were hiding
O believe me these words are true
In paper houses the poor were biding
O believe me these words are true
And that's the first of the seven warnings
O believe me these words are true
I saw a meadow but no one ploughing
O believe me these words are true
Saw the furrow but no one sowing
O believe me these words are true
Saw the harvest but no one mowing
O believe me these words are true
And that's the second of the seven warnings
O believe me these words are true
I saw a giant full of learning
O believe me these words are true
Heard his song of love and mourning
O believe me these words are true
And all around him black sea was burning
O believe me these words are true
And that's the third of the seven warnings
O believe me these words are true
The floods are rising the lightning flashes
O believe me these words are true
Fire cleanses water washes
O believe me these words are true
Plague and famine breed in the ashes
O believe me these words are true
And that's the fourth of the seven warnings
O believe me these words are true
Southern breezes plead retribution
O believe me these words are true
Western winds bring no solution
O believe me these words are true
Northern tempests howl revolution
O believe me these words are true
And that's the fifth of the seven warnings
O believe me these words are true
Had we the courage to be more daring
O believe me these words are true
And if the wealthy were more sharing
O believe me these words are true
And those in power showed more caring
O believe me these words are true
And that's the sixth of the seven warnings
O believe me these words are true
And that's the last of the seven warnings
O believe me
Track 2 AN ACRE OF LAND (Trad)
My father gave me an acre of land
Ivy, Sing Ivy
My father gave me an acre of land
And a bunch of green holly and ivy
I ploughed it with an old ram's horn ...
I sowed it with a peppercorn ...
I harrowed it with a bramble bush ...
I reaped it with my little penknife ...
The mice they carried it to the barn ...
I threshed it with a goose's quill ...
The miller he said he'd work with a will ...
We measured it in a walnut shell ...
To market with a team of rats ...
My team of rats came rattling back
With fifty bright guineas and an empty sack
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Track 3 I ONLY SPOKE PORTUGUESE ( Bill Worsfold)
My name's Jose Luis Santini, a cooper's boy proud Portuguese
Shanghaied by an American whaler, bound down for the southern seas
But I could not speak their language, I was beaten mercilessly
And at Cable Bay I slipped over the side, bade farewell to the ship & the sea
Taken in & sheltered by the Maori, the chieftain took pity on me
I fell in love with his beautiful daughter, & I knew in my heart she loved me
For the heart knows only one language, that the eyes alone speak with ease
For she could only speak Maori & I only spoke Portuguese
It's fifty-six years we've been lovers & it seems like just yesterday
And it's twenty-one children she bore me, no man more contented today
But if I had the wings of a tui, I would sing from the highest of trees
For she still only speaks Maori & I only speak Portuguese
Track 4 BANKS OF VIRGIE (trad)
Three fair maids went out for a walk, all the lee & the lonely O
They met a robber by their way, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
He took the first one by the hand, all the lee & the lonely O
He turned her round & bid her stand, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
O will you be a robber's wife, all the lee & the lonely O
Or will you die by my penknife, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
I'll not be no robber's wife, all the lee & the lonely O
I'd rather die by your penknife, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
So he took out his little penknife, all the lee & the lonely O
And there he took the first one's life, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
He took the second one by the hand, all the lee & the lonely O
Turned her round & bid her stand, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
O will you be a robber's wife, all the lee & the lonely O
Or will you die by my penknife, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
I'll not be no robber's wife, all the lee & the lonely O
I'd rather die by your penknife, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
So he killed this maid & laid her by, all the lee & the lonely O
To bear the red rose company, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
Then he took the third one by the hand, all the lee & the lonely O
Turned her round & bid her stand, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
O I'll not be no robber's wife, all the lee & the lonely O
Nor will I die by your penknife, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
For if my brother he was here, all the lee & the lonely O
You would not have murdered my sisters dear, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
Where is your brother, pray now tell, all the lee & the lonely O
He's out a robbing, like yourself, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
He was banished when he was young, all the lee & the lonely O
He was called Young Babylon, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
O what is this that I have done, all the lee & the lonely O
I've killed my sisters, save the one, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
So he took out his little penknife, all the lee & the lonely O
And there he took his own dear life, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
And his body was thrown to the poisoned lake, all the lee & the lonely O
To feed the toads & the rattlesnakes, by the bonny Banks of Virgie.
Track 5 CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (trad)
It was early, early all in the spring,
Down in the meadow growing green.
A fair pretty maiden I chanced to meet,
And I asked her if she would walk with me.
I asked her if she would walk with me,
Down in the meadows growing green.
I'd show her flowers and pretty things
And I'd show her what she had never seen.
As this young couple went strolling along,
He sang to her some sweet pretty song.
He sang to her some sweet pretty song,
And soon he gained her favour.
Now that you've had your will of me.
And stolen away my sweet liberty.
You have stolen away my sweet liberty,
Won't you please tell me your name, sir?
My name is Catch me, that's if you can,
I'll marry you when I return.
I'll marry you when I return,
But I'm going over the ocean.
Now three long months they had gone and past,
And six long months he never returned.
Nine long months have come at last,
And the child has got no father.
I'll search this wide world, around and around,
I'll find that young man if I can.
I'll find that young man if I can,
If I catch him at his pleasure.
Track 6 JUDAS (trad)
There were twelve bonfires burning in a field
Judas, Judas
There was one for Peter, there was one for John
Every disciple he had one
Judas, Judas
There was one for James that died by the sword,
But the biggest and the best was for our dear Lord
Burn burn Judas burn slow
Bright bright bright for our dear Lord's sake
Burn slow for Judas
Judas was a red-headed man
There was one bonfire standing all alone
Judas, Judas
Down by the marish it smoked away
It smoked all night and it smoked all day
Judas, Judas
Twas a proper green pother for all to see
But the fire burns bright on our dear Lord's tree
Burn burn Judas burn slow
Bright bright bright for our dear Lord's sake
Burn slow for Judas
Judas was a red-headed man
Track 7 AN OLD MAN'S ADVICE (trad)
My grandfather worked when he was very young, and his parents felt grieved
that he should.
To be forced in the fields to scare away the crows, to earn himself a little
bit of food.
The days they were long and his wages were but small, and to do his best he
always tried.
But times are better for us all, since the old man died.
Chorus
For the union is started, unite, unite, cheer up faint hearted, unite, unite.
The work's begun, never to stop again, since the old man died.
My grandfather said in the noontime
of life, poverty was a grief and a curse.
For it brought to his home sorrow, discord & strife, & it kept him
poor with empty purse.
So he took a bold stand & he joined the union band, to help his fellow
men he tried.
A union man, he vowed he'd stand, 'til the day he died.
My grandfather's dead, as we gathered
round his bed, these last words to us he did say.
Don't let your union drop or the agitation stop, or else you will soon rue
the day.
Get united to a man for it's your only plan, make the union your care &
your pride
Help on reform, in every way you can, then the old man died.
Track 8 OREGON (Tucker Zimmerman)
They crossed the Atlantic Ocean their boats were made of wood
They landed on the Eastern Shore and found the land was good
Most of them settled down...
The others pushed across the Appalachians into the wilderness
Some on wagons some on foot and horses for the rest
Most of them settled down....
The others pushed across the Mississippi about a mile wide
To face the Great Plains thirst and hunger many many died
Yes some got left behind...
The others pushed across the Rocky Mountains the Salt Flats of Utah
The Waste Lands of Nevada and the High Sierra saw
That some got left behind
The others pushed on to California those men who knew no rest
The Pacific Ocean stopped their restless movement west
Most of them settled down....
The others turned around
Some turned to the south down to Mexico
But those people of who's blood I am
They said we'll go and settle Oregon
The people I come from they settled Oregon
The people I come from
Track 9 PENNY FOR THE PLOUGHBOYS (Colin Cater)
At the end of the year all the fields were brown
In the days when I was young
Corn in the barns, frost in the ground and never a greenshoot sprung
Then the ploughmen came with their hob-nailed boots
And the Molly dance rich and slow
And with magical plays and songs of the land
They bade the corn to grow
Chorus
Only once a year, a penny for the ploughboys
To keep us in good cheer and multiply the grain
Only once a year, penny for the ploughboys
Speed the plough until the year turns round again
Then the wind did blow and the sun did shine
And the rain from Heaven did fall
Little Sir John he sprung up his head and soon grew amazing tall
When the corn was ripe and the harvesters came
The barns and the breweries rang
And when all was safely gathered in
They raised their glass and sang
Now the seasons they're all changed round
A slave to the great machine
Fields are ploughed in the high summer time
By the turn of the year they're green
Gone are the trades the horses and families
That followed the seasons along
And the old pubs close because they can't resound
To the fiddle or a country song
There's strength in the plays, in the dances and songs
That have lasted a thousand years
There's strength in the barley, oats and hops
Brewed into a country beer
Puts a spring in the step of an Old Straw Bear
Makes the dancer leap for the skies
And when the Molly gangs come to Speed the Plough
They'll raise their voice and cry
Track 10 THE MERMAID (trad)
O as I sailed out one day, one day
And being not far from the land.
There I spied a mermaid, sitting on a rock,
With a comb and a glass in her hand.
Chorus
And the raging sea do roar,
And the stormy winds do blow,
We poor sailor boys were up, were up aloft
And the land lovers lying down below.
And the song she sang, she sang so sweet,
That no answer at all could us make.
'Til at length our gallant ship turned round about,
And it caused all our poor hearts to ache.
Sheer off, sheer off you poor mariners,
Don't you founder all here in the deep.
For this I do for poor sailor's sake,
All losing of my sleep.
Call the boat, the boat you poor Plymouth boys,
Don't you hear how the trumpets do sound.
For the want of a longer boat, we were all lost,
And most of our merry men were drowned.
The moon shines bright, the stars give a light
And my mother is looking for me.
She may look to the skies with tears in her eyes,
But she must look to the bottom of the sea.
Track 11 THE TOWER OF BABEL (Trevor Carter)
Once upon a time in a land called Babel,
The mayor and all his henchmen called the people to the square.
And he said, "I plan to build a tower so tall that I'll be able,
To talk with God in heaven if he's there.
There's nothing I can't do, if only I imagine it
And God can't stop me now, or keep me from my dream.
If he's the God that he's cracked up to be, then surely he'll look up to me,
A loyal and trusted partner in his scheme".
Now the people gathered round him in the square weren't keen,
For his crazy plans were apt to end in tears and sweat and blood.
And not many had survived the worst disaster ever seen.
His irrigation scheme that caused a nasty flood.
But he sent into the crowd, for loyal teams of workers
Who would volunteer to work for him and build his great design?
And his henchmen proved inventive, used the very best incentives,
That's the whips and chains they favoured at the time.
Now the project started well, and as the weeks went by,
With increasing pride, the mayor would strut amongst the bustling crowds,
And it wasn't many months before the monstrous tower rose up so high
It seemed to disappear into the clouds.
But God looked down, he said "You're in my airspace.
I'll have to stop you now, and as I'm God, I'll find a way"
He said "Take this as a warning mind your language, in the morning
You'll find no one understands a word you say"
Now the mayor slept rather badly and he turned up late
Far the workers' daily briefing, where they waited in suspense,
Then he talked to them of business plans, of benchmarks, targets, mission statements
Not one single word he said made sense.
So the workers drifted off and went to have a party,
But the henchmen called them back; they said, "It's no excuse to shirk.
There's no time for games and frollicks; yes the mayor is talking bollocks,
But who cares, it isn't him who does the work."
Then the henchmen fetched their flipcharts, they were in no doubt
They could motivate the workforce through discussion frank and full.
But they found that when they tried to speak, these alien words came pouring out
Like something from the arse-end of a bull.
So one by one the workers drifted home again
To sing and dance and play and do the things that people should.
And the mayor held training sessions introducing new expressions,
While his henchmen smiled to show they understood.
Thus it was the Tower of Babel finished incomplete,
And God saw that it was good, and smiled, and then went back to bed.
But the mayor could not accept or understand that they were beaten,
He rescheduled the completion date instead.
He down-sized the workforce, and made the henchmen managers,
And they loved their new language 'cos they'd nothing much to say
And round desks and boardroom tables, in countless other Babels,
People still love talking bullshit to this day.
Track 12 THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT (trad)
An Outlandish knight from the North lands came, and he came a-wooing to me
And he told me he'd take me to the Northern lands, and there he would marry me.
Go fetch me some of your father's gold, and some of your mother's fee
And two best horses that lie in the stable, where there stand thirty and three.
She fetched him some of her father's gold, and some of her mother's fee
And two best horses that lay in the stable, where there stand thirty and three.
She mounted on her milk white steed, he on the dapple grey
They rode 'til they came to the side of the sea, three hours before it was day.
Light off, light off, your milk white steed, and deliver it unto me
Six pretty maids have I drowned here, and the seventh one you shall be
Take off, take off your silken gown, and deliver it unto me
For I think it looks too fine and gay, to rot in the salt, salt sea
If I take off my silken gown, pray turn your back on me
For it is not fitting that a ruffian like you, a naked lady should see
He turned around put his back to her, to view the leaves so green,
She caught him by the middle so small, and tumbled him into the stream.
He rose high and he sank low, so bitterly then he cried
My hand, my hand, my pretty maiden, and I will make you my bride.
Lie there, lie there, you false hearted man, lie there instead of me
Six pretty maids have you drowned here, but the seventh has drownded thee
She mounted on her milk white steed, and led the dapple grey
She rode till she came to her own father's hall, three hours before it was day
The parrot being up in the window so high, hearing the lady did say
I'm afraid that some ruffian has led you astray, that you tarry so long away
Don't prittle, don't prattle my pretty polly, don't tell any tales on me
And your cage shall be made of the glittering gold, though it's made from the green willow tree .
The king being in the chamber so high, and hearing the parrot did say
What ails you, what ails you my pretty polly, that you prattle so long before day
It's no laughing matter the parrot did say, that so loudly I call unto thee
For the cat's got into the window so high, and I'm afraid he will have me
Well turned, well turned my pretty polly, well turned, well turned for me
Your cage shall be made of the glittering gold, and the door of the best ivory.
Track 13 BOSTON BURGLAR (trad)
I was born in Boston a place you all know well
Brought up by honest parents the truth to you I'll tell
Brought up by honest parents and raised most tenderly
Til I became a burglar at the age of twenty three
My character was taken and I was sent to jail
My friends all tried to get me out but none could raise my bail
The jury found me guilty the clerk he wrote it down
The judge he passed the sentence that sent me to Charlestown
I saw my poor old father pleading at the bar
Likewise my dear old mother tearing out her hair
Tearing out those old grey locks til tears come trickling down
She said my son what have you done to be sentenced to Charlestown
It was on a cold December day they put me on a train
And every station I passed by you could here the people say
Yonder goes a burglar for some great crime goes down
For twenty years or more he'll serve in a place they call Charlestown
I have a girl in Boston a girl that I love well
If ever I gain my liberty along with her I'll dwell
If ever I gain my liberty bad company I will shun
Playing cards and gambling and also drinking rum
Now you who have your liberty pray keep it while you can
Don't walk about the streets at night or break the laws of man
For if you do you'll surely rue and find yourself quite bound
Serving out your twenty one years in a place they call Charlestown
Track 14 NORTHILL MAY SONG (trad)
Arise, arise you pretty fair maid,
And take your May bush in,
For if it is gone by tomorrow, morrow morn,
You'll say we have brought you none.
We have been wandering all this night,
And almost all this day,
And now return-ed back again,
We have brought you a branch of May.
A branch of May we have brought you,
And at your door it stands,
It's nothing but a sprout, but it's well budded out,
By the work of our dear Lord's hands.
The clock strikes one, it's time to be gone,
No longer can we stay,
May Heaven bless you all both great and small,
And send you a joyful May.
Track 15 WASSAIL SONG (trad)
Here we come a-wass'ling
Among the leaves so green
Here we come a-wass'ling
So fair as to be seen
Chorus
Love and joy come to you
To your wassail to you
Praise God and send you a Happy New Year
A Happy New Year, A Happy New Year,
Praise God and send you a Happy New Year,
We are not daily beggars
Who beg from door to door
But we are neighbours' children
Who you have seen before
We've got a little purse
Made from the leather skin
Please give us some money
To line it well within
God bless the Master of this house
Likewise the Mistress too
And all the little children
Who round your table grow
