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A Carousel for Fools

by The Mather Robinson Band

supported by
Steve Saunders
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Steve Saunders Forget Steeleye or Traffic - the version of John Barleycorn on here knocks the spots off them. Favorite track: Men of Constant Sorrow.
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1.
We don’t know where we’re going and we’re not sure where we are We’re planning global conquest but we’ve not got very far We’re in the ale house or the jail house with Sibelius! We’ve took so many short-cuts we can’t find our own way back We’ve spent too many long nights on the wrong side of the track Inside the ale house and the jail house with Sibelius! You’ll find us in the ale house or maybe in the jail house Oh alongside Sibelius Ask us where we’ve come from and we don’t know where we’ve been America, Australia or somewhere in between We’re in the ale house or the jail house with Sibelius! You’ll find us in the ale house or even in the jail house Oh alongside Sibelius We’re on the right side of the argument - the wrong side of the law We’d like to say for certain but we’re not completely sure We’re in the ale house or the jail house with Sibelius! We’ve sipped the finest champagne and we’ve dined on caviar We tripped the light fantastic - found it all a bit bazaar We’re in the ale house and the jail house with Sibelius! You’ll find us in the ale house or especially in the jail house Oh alongside Sibelius We’ll toast the revolution then we’ll sing God save the Queen It’s either agony or ecstasy but nothing in between We’re in the ale house and the jail house with Sibelius And if God is in his heaven and if all’s right with the world Why is the incubus, the succubus and hell’s demonic hoards Inside mi’ ale house and mi’ jail house with Sibelius! You’ll find us in the ale house or even in the jail house Oh alongside Sibelius You’ll find us in the ale house….. or maybe in the jail house - Oh alongside Sibelius
2.
As I was out walking down Paradise Street – Blow the man down bullies blow the man down A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet – Blow the man down bullies blow the man down So I upped and I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow And yardarm to yardarm for New York away we did go. But as soon as that packet was clear of the bar – Blow the man down bullies blow the man down Her mate knocked me out with the end of a spar – Blow the man down bullies blow the man down Then it's starboard and larboard for fifty days straight I must haul For Kicking Jack Williams the brigand commands the Black Ball. Well there's tinkers, and tailors, and soldiers, and all – We say blow the man down… We all shipped for sailors on board the Black Ball – We say blow the man down… We gullible fools, we poor devils, how hard we must graft. The cruel Captain orders “ye land lubbers lay fore and aft” So it’s… Blow the man down bullies blow the man down – way hey, blow the man down Rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town – give me some time to blow the man down A bonnie good mate and a bold captain too – way hey, blow the man down A bonnie good ship and a bonnie good crew – give me some time to blow the man down So rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town – Blow the man down… We will blow the man up and we’ll blow that man down – Blow the man down… May I caution and give you fair warning before we belay, Don't ever take heed of what Liverpool’s pretty girls say Then at last, my fine boys, we are back round the rock – And it’s blow the man down… And soon, very soon, we’ll be safe in the dock – And it’s blow the man down… Older and wiser – our trials and our sentence complete Then we’ll spend all our tin once again in old Paradise Street. Blow the man down bullies blow the man down – way hey, blow the man down Rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town – give me some time to blow the man down A bonnie good mate and a bold captain too – way hey, blow the man down A bonnie good ship and a bonnie good crew – give me some time to blow the man down Blow the man down bullies blow the man down – way hey, blow the man down Rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town – give me some time to blow the man down A bonnie good mate and a bold captain too – way hey, blow the man down Our tale being told it’s farewell and adieu… – give me some time to blow the man down.
3.
Three jobs on the go - but still she can’t make ends meet A pay-day loan - no man at home and nights out now a rare treat. Christmas coming fast. The kids are all expecting! Here comes another pay freeze, there can be no happy ending. And all her yesterdays - and all her bright tomorrows Lie strewn in broken disarray. Woman of constant sorrow She had a part to play. She had her lines to follow But someone tore the script up And those promises sound hollow - hollow to her now Worked all his life but now he’s blind - he can’t work anymore. A government statistic of the undeserving poor. His benefits have been withdrawn - he’s just been re-assessed. He’s no less blind but he’s still on the scrap heap with the rest. No money and the rent is due - there’s only one way out The rope goes tight, there’s one last breath and no-one hears him shout, “I had a part to play - I had some lines to follow” But someone tore the script up And your promises sound hollow – hollow to us now For those of you that make it through to realise your pension Don’t celebrate – there’s one small thing that they forgot to mention You thought you had a deal - You thought they’d keep their bargain Your thirty, forty, fifty years not worth a ruddy farthing. The politicians’ say, “We’re all in this together. Green shoots around the corner boys. Look out for better weather.” You played your part quite well. Your lines were neatly followed then someone tore the script up Now their promises sound hollow - hollow -hollow And all our yesterdays and all our bright tomorrows Lie strewn in broken disarray. We are men of constant sorrow We want a part to play. We want some lines to follow. But you tore all the scripts up Now your promises sound hollow …hollow to us now.
4.
I’m lonely since I crossed the hill from where I left my county With heavy thoughts my heart does fill the further I do roam For as I seek to make my way, each day more reminds me How pleasantly the hours did pass away - With the girl I left behind me I never shall forget that night the stars were bright and shining And gently lent their silvery glow to light me on my road But now I’m bound for Waterloo. I pray God’s great design be To bring me safe back home once more - to the girl I left behind me Her golden hair in ringlets fair Her eyes like sparkling diamonds shone A fairer lass in all the world - no man gazed upon Ye Gods above oh hear my prayer - to life’s temptations blind me But guide me safe back home again to the girl I left behind me I’ve felt the force, the raging storm of life’s great adventure The crashing waves now cease to roar - I’ve drank to my fill Release me from this battlefield. Transport me and confine me With the fairest maid of all - The girl I left behind me Her golden hair in ringlets fair Her eyes like sparkling diamonds shone A fairer lass in all the world - no man gazed upon Ye Gods above oh hear my prayer - to life’s temptations blind me But guide me safe back home again to the girl I left behind me So if I don’t answer to the roll don’t seek for me - you’ll find me Safe home in the warm embrace - of the girl I left behind me Her golden hair in ringlets fair Her eyes like sparkling diamonds shone A fairer lass in all the world - no man gazed upon So if I don’t answer to the roll - don’t seek for me - you’ll find me Safe home in the warm embrace - of the girl I left behind me
5.
A pious young vicar of tender years came to our shire He was handsome and zealous in equal part – much to admire. Now in Barton Wood nothing much happens and so it is said The appointment of one so anointed turned every girl’s head. He soon filled the pews with the ladies who hung on his every word. Stirred their passions, the Word of the Lord was ne’er so keenly heard Now one night a newlywed came for to ask his advice Would the Lord bless her marriage with children – she’d pay any price. Her man was too busy with farming to tend to her needs One thing on our vicar’s mind - it wasn’t God’s Holy Creed! Suffice it to say as the night wore on, from the path of the righteous he strayed. He’d found he was a poacher by night and a God fearing Christian by day This woman departed well pleased with the service she’d got But her tongue was too loose and the womenfolk soon knew the lot. And in no time at all there’s a queue forming up at his door for his ministrations. For them, it seems, he had the cure. An upstanding pillar of village life, but when the menfolk were out of the way He was a poacher by night and a God fearing Christian by day. To the widow and her three fine daughters he visiting went. But the widow was out so with three girls he found time well spent. How gaily they romped and with gusto what sport they did play till the widow returned and discovered them in disarray. Well she threw off her shawl and she bowed and then pitched herself into the fray To the arms of a poacher by night and a God fearing Christian A poacher by night and a God fearing Christian A poacher by night and a God fearing Christian by day In time the news of his deeds met the Archbishop’s ear whose solution was to promote him to a life more austere Now obedience to God and to Church meant that he must depart so the vicar obeyed but he did so with much heavy heart In vain the ladies of Barton Wood begged and implored him to stay Each one of them said their goodbye’s in their own special way. And they said “If court life doesn’t befit you well, you’re welcome back here any day For we love our poacher by night and a God fearing Christian A poacher by night and a God fearing Christian … A poacher by night and a God fearing Christian by day” That’s what they say! Poacher by night and a God fearing Christian by day
6.
Out of the east a wind is rising What do you think of that? “Too busy living day to day” And the rain goes pit-a-pat Clouds are gathering a storm is coming What do you have to say? “As long as I’ve got my Sky TV It’s sunshine every day” And day on day and year on year They work us more for less While we focus our attentions On those with no redress As long there are those poor souls Whose fate is yet more cruel We count ourselves as winners In this carousel for fools You who live and suffer moan For others’ misery or your own Drunk as with intoxication From the wine of desolation Your women, children, young and old They cry in pain and weep from cold And many more destructions play In this ghastly masquerade We won’t lie down We won’t lie down Out of the east a change is coming The tempest has arrived Do we count ourselves as winners? Is it enough to be alive? Or has something pricked our conscience? Do we stand or do we yield? Is the dark veil lifted from our eyes? Is the tyranny revealed? And day on day and year on year Our masters call for more But we focus our attention On the undeserving poor As long there are those poor souls Whose work we will not do Our place is in the vanguard of this carousel for fools You who live and suffer moan For others’ misery or your own Drunk as with intoxication From the wine of desolation You who suffer woes untold Reap the whirlwind and behold Your poor country bought and sold For the price of blood and gold You who live and suffer moan For others’ misery or your own Drunk as with intoxication From the wine of desolation Your women, children, young and old They cry in pain and weep from cold And many more destructions play In this ghastly masquerade We won’t lie down We won’t lie down Shake off your chains like morning dew And remember – ye are many – they are few!
7.
Oh, the summertime is coming And the trees are sweetly blooming And the wild mountain thyme Grows around the blooming heather Will you go, Lassie, go? I will build my love a bower By yon pure and crystal water And on it I will lay All the flowers of the mountain Will you go, Lassie, go? And we'll all go together To pick wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, Lassie, go? If my true love won't come with me I will surely find another To pick wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, Lassie, go? And we'll all go together To pick wild mountain thyme All around the purple heather Will you go, Lassie go? And we'll all go together To pick wild mountain thyme All around the purple heather Will you go, Lassie go?
8.
I was around when the Tora hit the ground, yes I was there to see it all begin I split Eve from her lover, got between Cain and his brother, man, I gave you original sin I tempted Jesus in the desert - forty days and nights - I spelled it out as plain as it could be Talked to Mohammed he repeated what the man had said, they both set out to set their peoples free I laid my cards on the table I did the deal – got all parties to agree but Oh Jesus’ and Mohammed’s men as far as I can see You’re doing my job for me I’ve watched crusaders launch their holy wars, I saw good people drown in rivers of blood I’ve seen evangelists, extremists, fundamentalists and terrorists who thought they understood And in the name of the Father Or for Yahweh or for Allah or for God Oh Jesus’ and Mohammed’s men as far as I can see You’re doing my job for me I thought we had an understanding I thought I was the Prince of Evil - that was me but Oh Jesus’ and Mohammed’s men as far as I can see You’re doing my job for me And in the name of the Father Or for Yahweh or for Allah or for God Oh Jesus’ and Mohammed’s men as far as I can see You’re doing my job for me Je suis Charlie
9.
I well remember Martin Luther King Damn you who say he didn’t change a thing You should have been there You should have been there When Rosa Parks sat down to make her stand When Rosa changed the history of her land You should have been there You should have been there Oh how it raised my soul to be there When men of violence rose to have their say The Mahatma Ghandi found a peaceful way You should have been there You should have been there Oh how it raised my soul to be there Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom You should have been there You should have been there Oh how it raised my soul to be there For twenty-seven years he was confined No bribe nor threat would change Madiba’s mind You should have been there You should have been there On Robben Isle they hoped his dreams would drown But he smiled and brought Apartheid crashing down You should have been there You should have been there Oh how it raised my soul to be there Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom You should have been there You should have been there Oh how it raised my soul to be there Who stood before the tanks at Tiananmen? Who’ll stand defending freedom once again? We have to be there I hope you’ll be there For what are our tomorrows like to be? Our future is to write our history What will we see there? I hope you’ll be there Oh it would raise my soul if you’re there Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom You should have been there You should have been there Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom You should have been there You should have been there Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom Sing aloud sing aloud sing aloud and bellow - Freedom You should have been there You should have been there Oh how it raised my soul to be there Oh how it raised my soul to be there
10.
My Old Town 03:46
11.
Sicily Bound 04:40
You say – How can we abandon them to their fate? Women and children in a parlous state, A tidal wave of suffering and its coming our way There but by the grace of god - m'aide You say. And what do they have that’s worth staying for? Famine and pestilence and Civil War So they’re pinning their hopes on a distant shore And the luck of the draw They’re all sailing for Sicily bound One in one hundred lands on holy ground. Watching on helpless as their boats go down, could you watch them drown? You say - Turn them all away! Only because they will be saved do they come Each to their own – look after number one Why should we share our wealth with those who create none And look at the numbers – look at what you’ve done You say And packed to the gunnels - fore and aft A flotilla of flimsy, unseaworthy craft Full of Libyans, Somalians and Syrians, With their lives in our hands They’re all sailing for Sicily bound One in one hundred lands on holy ground. Watching on helpless as their boats go down, would you watch them drown? And drowning’s not the only way to lose your life There’s the fumes in the hold, there’s the point of a knife Scafisti deal death at an all-in price Of a thousand euros one way All sailing for Sicily bound One in one hundred lands on holy ground Watching on helpless as their boats go down Could you watch them drown? They’re all sailing for Sicily bound One in one hundred lands on holy ground Watching on helpless as their boats goes down Could you watch her drown? all sailing for Sicily bound One in one hundred lands on holy ground Watching on helpless as their boats go down Shall we watch them drown? as their boats go down as the boat goes down
12.
Please Monsieur a penny for mi’ keep sir Please Monsieur a penny for the poor I was as right as rain sir, now I’m a trifle lame And I haven’t been the same since they packed me off to war At nineteen years my life stretched out before me I had no wish for to fight a foreign foe Apprenticed engineer sir, a promising career Aah but all that has gone queer – sir - since the blighters bid me go Please Monsieur a penny for mi’ keep sir Please Monsieur a penny for the poor I was as right as rain sir, now I’m a trifle lame And I haven’t been the same since they packed me off to war I had a sweetheart - she doesn’t want to know me A fulsome damsel - a galleon in full sail Her name was Sadie Frost and she let me go because I’m not half the man I was since I shipped for Passchendaele So please Monsieur a penny for mi’ keep sir Please Monsieur a penny for the poor I was as right as rain sir, now I’m a trifle lame And I haven’t been the same since they packed me off to war I gained the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant I kept mi’ books and mi’ figures trim and neat Til a lousy mortar shell blew mi’ two fine legs to hell I wish I was there as well – and not begging on this street So please Monsieur a penny for mi’ keep sir Please Monsieur a penny for the poor I was as right as rain sir, now I’m a trifle lame And I haven’t been the same since they packed me off to war So don’t you dare go fight for king and country Don’t you shoulder a bayonet and a gun You stay safe and sound. Don’t go dodging mortar rounds Cos mi’ legs have not been found since I went to fight the Hun Please Monsieur a penny for my keep sir Please Monsieur a penny for the poor I was as right as rain sir, now I’m a trifle lame And I haven’t been the same since they packed me off to war
13.
There were three men came out of the west, their fortunes for to try And these three men made a solemn vow John Barleycorn must die They've ploughed, they've sown, they've harrowed him in Threw clods upon his head And these three men made a solemn vow John Barleycorn was dead They've let him lie for a very long time, 'til the rains from heaven did fall And little Sir John sprung up his head and so amazed them all They've let him stand 'til Midsummer's Day 'til he looked both pale and wan And little Sir John's grown a long long beard and so become a man They've hired men with their scythes so sharp - to cut him at the knee They've rolled him and tied him by the waist - serving him most barbarously They've hired men with their sharp pitchforks who've pricked him to the heart And the loader he has served him worse than that For he's bound him to the cart They've wheeled him around and around a field 'til they came unto a barn And there they made a solemn oath on poor John Barleycorn They've hired men with their crabtree sticks to cut him to the bone And the miller he has served him worse than that For he's ground him between two stones And little Sir John with the nut brown bowl and his brandy in a glass And little Sir John with the nut brown bowl proved the strongest man at last The huntsman he can't hunt the fox not so loudly to blow his horn And the tinker - he can't mend kettle nor pots without a little barleycorn

about

It started out as two or three songs that were just too late for inclusion on the first album. Wherever we played them folks wanted to buy an album with these songs on it. So thirteen songs later here is the second album from Anthony Quinn, Dave Mather, Pete Robinson and Chris Mather collectively known as The Mather Robinson Band.
So now it's done - let the drinking commence!
Listen responsibly and in moderation. Did the earth move for you? Tell us at www.facebook.com/matherandrobinson

credits

released June 21, 2015

Recorded, engineered and produced with love at The Stable Studio, Saddleworth. www.thestablestudio.co.uk
CD Artwork design by Little Boy Black www.facebook.com/MichaelThomasDesign
Photography by our good friend and optics wizard, Bev Harrow Photography

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about

The Mather Robinson Band Salford, UK

Dave Mather and Pete Robinson grew up together in the north of England in the nineteen sixties and have been writing and performing music individually and as a team ever since. From Opera to rock to pop and now back to their roots in folk music. Mather & Robinson entertain audiences in the north west of England but if you ask them - they will hummmm. ... more

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