Fairport Convention

[fox69]

"Bird On A Wire"

"Bird On A Wire"


Like a bird on a wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way
To be free
Like a worm on a hook
Like a knight from some old-fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons
For thee
If I have been unkind
I hope you will just let it go by
And if I have been untrue
I hope you know it was not unto you
Like a baby stillborn
Like a beast with its horns
I have torn everyone
Who reached out for me
And I swear by this song
And by all I have done wrong
That I will make it all
Up to thee
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden cross
He said to me "do not ask for so much"
And a woman standing in her darkened door
She cried to me "hey, why not ask for more?"
Like a bird on a wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way
To be free

 

[fox69]

"Bonny Bunch Of Roses"

"Bonny Bunch Of Roses"


By the margin of the ocean, one summer day in the month of June
The feather'd warbling songsters their voices sweetly sang in tune
It was there I met a female all overcome with grief and woe
Conversing with Napoleon on the Bonny Bunch of Roses, O
Then up spoke young Napoleon and he took her by the hand
Saying "Mother dear, be patient, and I soon will take command
And I'll raise a mighty army, and through tremendous dangers go
And I'll conquer all the universe, and I'll have the Bonny Bunch of Roses, O"
"When first you saw great Bonaparte, you fell upon your bended knee
And asked your father's life of him he granted it most manfully
It was then he took an army, and o'er the frozen Alps did go
Saying, "I'll conquer Moscow and come back for the Bonnie Bunch of Roses, O"
Oh he took a mighty army, princes and dukes were in his train
He was so well provided for, enough to sweep the world for gain
But when he came to Moscow, all overpowered by sleet and snow
And Moscow was a-blazing, he lost the Bonnie Bunch of Roses, O
Now son, don't speak so venturesome, for England has the heart of oak
And England, Ireland, Scotland, their unity will ne'er be broke
So remember your father, in Saint Helena he lies low
And you will follow after, beware of the Bonnie Bunch of Roses, O
Adieu, adieu forever, now I bow my youthful head
Had I lived I might have been clever, but now I lie on my dying bed
And as the waters do flow and the weeping willows over me grow
The name of brave Napoleon will enshrine the Bonnie Bunch of Roses, O

 

[fox69]

"Book Song"

"Book Song"


If she knew what I see while I'm watching
Would she know where to smile, what to say
When she leaves from her book to be with me
Where's her mind as she stands while I play
She left behind names in the pages
And the time she took out they stayed here
Now she thinks that she maybe should tell them
Of my book and the places she's been
Now she's looking at me while I'm writing
Does she know where to smile, what to say
When she leaves from her book to be with me
What's she thinking about while I play

 

[fox69]

"Breakfast In Mayfair"

"Breakfast In Mayfair"


The world has surely lost it's head
The news is full of crimes
There's robberies in The Telegraph
And there's murders in The Times
And always more obituaries
And even one of these
Concerns the brutal slaughter
Of an Old Miss Emma Keys
The police have got their man, they're sure
He never left the scene
Indeed he led the hue and cry
A most unusual thing
An arsonist, a murderer, his soul will soon be frying
He's young, but old enough to kill
But not too young for dying
Now it seams the populace will queue
To see him stand in court
To hear him speak his wicked lies
While smiling at his thoughts
This arrogant young ruffian is obviously guilty
Though no where does it say exactly
How or why he killed her
Forget it dear it's not the first
There's bound to be another
The way you carry on
You'll have us thinking she's your mother
This man called "Lee" has had his day
And soon he'll be forgotten
So put that paper down before your breakfast goes quite rotten

 

[fox69]

"Bring 'Em Down"

"Bring 'Em Down"


Time stood dark and silent and the stars they gave no light
I wandered in an endless dream, haunted by the night
I saw four ghostly riders, the horses in a line
Each in turn did point at me and say I'm on full rein[?]
We are the sculptors of the land, the rulers of the sea
We are the falcons of your sins, gardeners of the trees
The air about you is burning and the sea below does drown
And the legacy you leave your swan[?] will surely bring 'em down
Bring 'em down, bring 'em down, bring 'em down
Bring 'em down, bring 'em down, bring 'em down
A curse upon you men of war, with gun or pen in hand
The power sword or [?] the castles made of sand
You always have good reason to take more than you need
Your hearts are full of paper and your minds are full of greed
Bring 'em down, bring 'em down, bring 'em down
Bring 'em down, bring 'em down, bring 'em down
What is deeper than the ocean, colder than the grave
Stronger than your armies all and braver than the brave?
Those who know and knowing know[?] will sow on fertile ground
Those who don't and never would are those you will go down
Bring 'em down, bring 'em down, bring 'em down
Bring 'em down, bring 'em down, bring 'em down

 

[fox69]

"Bring Me Back My Feathers"

"Bring Me Back My Feathers"


Bring me back my feathers
Else I cannot fly
Bring me back my feathers
Else I'll surely die

Bring me back my feathers
Let me fly away
To the warm lands over the sea
Bring my feathers back to me

Bring me back my sweetheart
Else I cannot live
Bring me back my sweetheart
Anything I'd give

Bring me back my sweetheart
I'll kiss her wildly
And then I'll take her to my bed
Bring my sweetheart back to me

Bring me back my sweetheart
Bring her back to me
Bring me back my sweetheart
Oh, how happy I will be

Bring me back my tears
Else I cannot cry
Bring me back my tears
For look, I only sigh

Bring back my tears
Or dry my eyes will be
And I will only know of joy
When you bring them back to me

Bring me back my tears
Bring them back to me
Bring me back my tears
Oh, how happy I will be

Bring me back my footsteps
Else I cannot tread
Bring me back my footsteps
Or I may as well be dead

Bring me back my footsteps
Or I never will be free
Never again to walk this land
Bring my footsteps back to me

Bring me back my footsteps
Bring them back to me
Bring me back my footsteps
Oh, how happy I will be

Bring me back my feathers
Else I cannot fly
Bring me back my feathers
Else I'll surely die

Bring me back my feathers
And I can fly away
To the warm lands over the sea
Bring my feathers back to me

Bring me back my feathers
Bring them back to me
Bring me back my feathers
Oh, how happy I will be

 

[fox69]

"Cajun Woman"

"Cajun Woman"


The baby that the preacher gave you in the Spring
Spent the winter with his finger in the undertaker's ring
Oh Cajun woman, some people still call you a queen
I don't believe you're sinking but look at all the trouble you've been
He grew up in the bayou with a bible 'round his neck
He never loved a woman in the way you would expect
Oh Cajun woman, some people still call you a queen
I don't believe you're sinking but look at all the trouble you've been
Don't tell him 'bout his Father, don't tell him 'bout his name
The Gods won't get to Heaven if you crucify his brain
Oh Cajun woman, some people still call you a queen
I don't believe you're sinking but look at all the trouble you've been
Well it's welcome to the graveyard and welcome to the throne
Welcome to the orphanage where your family sit and moan
Welcome to the liquor store and welcome to the poor
Your momma never told you how lucky you are
Oh Cajun woman, some people still call you a queen
I don't believe you're sinking but look at all the trouble you've been

 

[fox69]

"Cell Song"

"Cell Song"


There's a tiny little window and the sun comes shining through
Dancing with the dust that's in my cell
There's a sparrow sitting on the sill and he stays for a minute or two
But he's frightened by the ringing of the bell
There's a bed that I must lie on when at night I take my rest
And a chair for me to sit on through the day
The men who wait beside me always know what's best
For a man who doesn't have too much to say
Throw a laugh into the corner, blow a tear against the wall
Learn a game to play, improve the mind
Confess your sins, you sinners, see how the seconds fall
Leave all earthly cares and woes behind
And when my short affair with life is ended and I'm gone
Will you tell the world the story of John Lee?
All you see is nothing and yet everything lives on
I was born to pay the hangman's fee

 

[fox69]

"Celtic Moon"

"Celtic Moon"


There's a lady who carries a burden
And the lines on her face tell it all
She remembers hearing sad stories
But still dances at Memory Hall
And the stars would come out just to see her
And the clouds blew away all too soon
Her face lit the heavens above her
She was helped by the Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
Once a young girl, with rings on her fingers
Given to her by a boy she once loved
Barefoot, they sat by the river
Sharing secrets with god up above
And the stars would come out just to see her
And the clouds blew away all too soon
Her face lit the heavens above her
She was helped by the Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
On a cold night by the roadside she rested
Pale was her skin, tired and worn
Her beauty had faded through grieving
She was too tired to weep, too tired to mourn
And the stars would come out just to see her
And the clouds blew away all too soon
Her face lit the heavens above her
She was helped by the Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon
Celtic Moon

 

[fox69]

"Chelsea Morning"
(originally by Joni Mitchell)

"Chelsea Morning"
(originally by Joni Mitchell)



Woke up big this Chelsea morning and the first thing that I heard
Was a song outside my window and the traffic wrote the words
It came ringing up like Christmas bells and rapping up like pipes and drums
Oh won't you stay? We'll put on a day and we'll wear it 'til the night comes
Woke up big this Chelsea morning and the first thing that I saw
Was the sun through yellow curtains and a rainbow on my wall
Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you, crimson crystal peaks to beckon
Oh won't you stay? We'll put on a day, there's a side-show every second
Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today
And the streets are paved with passers-by
And pictures fly and papers lie
Just waiting to blow away
Woke up big this Chelsea morning and the first thing that I knew
There was milk and toast and honey and a bowl of oranges too
And the light poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses
Oh won't you stay? We'll put on a day and we'll talk in present tenses
Now the curtain closes and the rainbow runs away
I'll bring you incense owls by night
By candle-light, by jewel-light
If only you will stay
Pretty baby won't you wake up, it's the Chelsea morning