cas@cvl.UUCP (07/21/83)
There was recently a request for "Travelling People" by Ewan MacColl.
This version comes from the notes enclosed with the record "A Tune for
November" by Gordon Bok on Folk-Legacy Records (I believe #FSI-40).
In case there is anyone reading this who doesn't already know, Gordon Bok
is a folksinger from Maine who has both a good voice and a lot of musical
talent. He often records with Ed Trickett and Ann Mayo Muir. I have
included the notes that come with the song.
______________________________________________________________________________
This song was written by Ewan MacColl about the efforts
on the part of the British government to legislate the journey-
men, tinkers and gypsies out of existence.
I'm a freeborn man of the travelling people,
Got no fixed abode, with nomads I am numbered.
Country lanes and byways were always my ways;
I never fancied being numbered.
Oh, we knew the woods and the resting places,
And the small birds sang when winter time was over.
Then we'd pack our load and be on the road;
Those were good old times for the rover.
In the open ground you could stop and linger
For a week or two, for time was not your master;
Then away you'd jog with your horse and dog,
Nice and easy, no need to go faster.
Sometimes you'd meet all the other people
For the news or swapping family information;
At the country fair, we'd be meeting there,
All the people of the travelling nation.
All you freeborn men of the tavelling people,
Every tinker, rolling stone, and gypsy rover,
Winds of change are blowing, old ways are going,
Your travelling days will soon be over.
____________________________________________________________________
Cliff Shaffer
...{mcnc,seismo,we13}!rlgvax!cvl!cas