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1. |
London Town
04:22
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London Town
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
I’ve had enough of farming man its much too hard a life
The master’s face is tripping him and the mistress hates my hide
So I’ll take my chance at midnight and I’ll head on down the road
Make my way to London town, grab myself some gold
After all these years its sad to think that all I own
Is wrapped up in a hanky on the end of a four foot pole
Some stolen bread and cheese will get me started on my way
I’ll be well along the road to London come the break of day
I’m heading down to London town
There’s gold to be found in London town
By the early evening I had walked most of the day
Thinking hard about the stranger who was going the other way
We sat, he talked, I listened to his tales of tears and woe
He told me how he’d run away to search for London’s gold
He said – don’t go down to London town
There’s no gold to be found in London town
He said - In London town you know the streets ain’t paved with gold
They’re paved with ghosts of innocents and long forgotten souls
It’s full of lawyers, thieves and politicians – what more need I say
You can smell the stench of London town a hundred miles away
Still I’m going down to London town
There’s gold to be found in London town
I’ll sell my soul in London town
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2. |
Wallace
03:41
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Wallace
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
He makes his way down Castlegait and turns to watch the flames
He knows for what he’s done this day they’ll forever curse his name
He stands amidst the ruins – the price they pay for his revenge
But all the blood and flames won’t bring her back again
He’s set his feet upon a path that may well lead to fame
But he knows he’ll never rest his bones in peaceful sleep again
To spend his life a hunted man’s a price he’ll gladly pay
To shed the blood of those who took her life away
His eyes are closed the dreams begin
At last he sees her face again
Listen you’ll hear him cry
The memories come pouring in
With all the sorrows - all the pain
Of dreams that have surely died
Some claim he fights for freedom and some claim he fights for gold
And some claim he seeks the honours only victories bestow
But in his heart he fights for memories and the bloodlust of revenge
Until he lies beside his Marion again
His eyes are closed ….
People call out his name and pray he’ll free them again
Though I wonder if he really knows why
But he holds the soul of this land in his outstretched hand
With the power to let it fly
He makes his way down Castlegait and turns to watch the flames
The eyes that used to shine with hope are burning now in pain
And the heart he gladly gave to her to treasure and to hold
Will forever now beat hard and dark and cold
His eyes are closed ….
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3. |
Excise Man
04:26
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Excise Man
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
There goes the excise man
Pen and paper in his hand
He walks a lost and lonely man
At a sick man’s pace
And a dreadful weight of sorrow Hangs
From the poor man’s face
He used to stand so straight and proud
Head held high as he walked around
You wouldn’t think it to see him now
He looks so old
Eyes fixed firmly on the ground
Life takes its toll
They say he writes with a god-blessed hand
Of life as only the poet can
Of the great and the good and the common man
Although he’s drenched in sin
And the righteous will never understand
Why god blessed him
He railed against the kirk and king
He’ll fire his pen at anything
And to be fair when he takes aim
He hits the mark
And it never seems to trouble him
That they’ll fire back
But in his heart he knows it won’t be long
The fire that used to light his eyes are gone
He buttons up his coat – holds it tight against the cold
He knows the fates have marked him out as one who’ll not grow old
Still the excise man walks on
Still he shares his gift for song
They’ll remember him when we’re all gone
And then they’ll praise
The genius of a man gone wrong
And his wayward ways
But in his heart he knows it won’t be long
The fire that used to light his eyes are gone
He buttons up his coat – holds it tight against the cold
He knows the fates have marked him out as one who’ll not grow old
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4. |
Blood and Flame
05:09
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Blood and Flame
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
The fires are burning lower now
Fighting hard against the fog
That’s rising from the river Lord
To shroud the men who will do your work
Some are reading from the scriptures Lord
Some are sharpening their swords
I try to give them comfort Lord
To help them make it through the night
They know that Satan’s men are marching Lord
And tomorrow they’ll push the fight
So I remind them how we’ve suffered Lord
To do the things that you know are right
Take a look at my face don’t you think that I’ve seen pain
The scars are etched here year by year by every soul I’ve seen
Lost ones come to follow you and I try to show the way
All the lost and I know very soon we’ll have our day
They’re huddled now for comfort Lord
Beneath the arches of the bridge
They search their hearts for courage Lord
They know you’ll put them to the test
Well they must suffer much in this world lord
To be accepted in the next
Take a look at my face…..
All the glory that’s in heaven Lord
Will be seen on this earth again
And we’ll build it with sword and blood and flame
Blood and flame
Take a look at my face….
Some are trying hard to rest now Lord
It is dark now and getting late
Some are thinking of tomorrow Lord
And what they’ll do for your glory’s sake
But no matter what will happen then
They know its you who’ll decide their fate
They know your enemy is coming Lord
With a hatred no tongue can tell
Just give us strength to do your bidding Lord
And we will do your bidding well
Then we’ll meet them in the morning Lord
And send them all straight back to Hell
Take a look at my face….
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5. |
Caravaggio's Eyes
04:35
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Caravaggio’s Eyes
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
Salome danced for the king
She danced so well he said - I’ll grant you anything
State your wish and it shall be
I’ll give you everything you want or crave or need
And through Caravaggio’s eyes
We see how the story ends
Herodias gives her advice
The King has promised you so now you must decide
So go to him and say
Give me the Baptist’s head on a golden plate
And through Caravaggio’s eyes
We see how the story ends
He can’t believe what he hears
But make a promise lightly - it will always end in tears
He feels no need to ask her why
A king must keep his word even though innocents may die
And through Caravaggio’s eyes
We see how the story ends
The artist has captured it all so well
The Baptist lying at their feet like some scene straight out of Hell
His hands bound tight behind
The executioner grabs his hair as he reaches for his knife
The artist paints the heartless pain
Then signs his name in the warm blood of a saint
And through Caravaggio’s eyes
We see how the story ends
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6. |
Mellow Song
04:47
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Mellow Song
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
Crap pours out the radio day and night
But pretty little boy bands ain’t the music I like
I know you like the rhythms soft and low
But you’re not going to hear that on my radio
I know the music doesn’t always get through
So I wrote this mellow little song for you
To brighten up your colours when you’re feeling blue
I’ll play the guitar nice and low
I wrote this mellow song for you you know
To brighten up your colours when you’re feeling blue
The record player back at home
Plays Black Sabbath and the Rolling Stones
To me those bands hold special memories
But when I look in face I see the agonies
I know the music…….
I play this guitar all the time
To try and get these songs out of this head of mine
I know you know it helps me through the day
But the look in you eyes says
Jesus! Not again
I know the music…..
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7. |
Gods
04:31
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Gods
( Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
Standing at the water’s edge
A father and his son
He told me all the gods lived here
But changes had come
They’ve been here since the dawn of time
He said that’s how it’s meant to be
Who would keep the dark at bay
Should they decide to leave
Then he took the sword he’d made
Of polished bronze and gold
Said a prayer to all the gods
And broke it on a stone
The pieces flew across the loch
That was calm and dark and deep
An honest gift from mortal man
To gods he’d always need
Whispering through the forest lands
Tales are being told
Sweeping on through homestead farms
Still the rumours grow
They say our gods are resting now
Though why no one can say
But we’ve heard that one is coming
Who will chase our gods away
Who will bring the summertime
The autumn and the grain
See us safely through the winter nights
‘Till spring comes ‘round again
Perhaps it has to be this
Gods bound like mortal men
To grow and thrive and pass away
When their time comes to an end
And this new one they talk about
When he too has had his day
Perhaps our gods will wake
And help protect us all again
Who will bring the summertime
The autumn and the grain
See us safely through the winter nights
‘Till spring comes ‘round again
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8. |
Jock o' Hazeldean
03:38
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Jock O Hazeldean
(Trad/arr Dave Gibb mcps/prs )
Why weep ye by the tide, lady, why weep ye by the tide?
I'll wed ye tae my youngest son and you shall be his bride
And you shall be his bride lady sae comely tae be seen
But aye she lout the tears doonfa’ for Jock O’Hazeldean
So wipe away that willfu grief and dry that cheek sae pale
Young Frank is laird of Errington an Lord O Langleydale
His foot is first in honest ha’ his sword in battle keen
But aye she lout the tears doonfa’ for Jock O’Hazeldean
A chain of gold you shall not lack nor braid tae bind your hair
Nor mettled hound nor managed hawk nor palfrey fresh an fair
And you, the fairest of them a’ shall ride, our forest queen
But aye she lout the tears doonfa’ for Jock O’Hazeldean
The kirk was decked at mornintide, the tapers glimmered fair
The priest and bridegroom wait the bride and dame and knight were there
They saught her in baith bower an ha’ the lady was not seen
She’s o’er the border and awa’ wi’ Jock O’Hazeldean
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9. |
Dunkeld
03:07
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Dunkeld
( Dave Gibb mcps/prs )
We broke our fast at break of day and headed out along the Tay
To visit the cathedral where the old folk go to pray
Between the river, trees and sky you very quickly realise
If you’re going to build a house for god you’ve got to build it there
And you feel the time stand still
Standing there among the trees surrounded by the history
You let it all flow over you and seep into your soul
A timeless feel about the place – a solitude and silent grace
It makes you wonder what it was the ancients used to know
And you feel the time stand still
Close your eyes and you believe it always will
One last look to take it in – it’s time to face the world again
You fill your head with memories and head towards the square
Leaving history behind the images lodged in your mind
You pray that in a thousand years it will still be standing there
And you feel the time stand still
Close your eyes and you believe it always will
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10. |
Into Paris With Me
04:21
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Into Paris With Me
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
We sat and we watched as he marched into town
Man, he must have been seven foot tall
With his piper and drummer and bright scarlet coat
You were not going to miss him at all
He set up his table outside the old inn
And he asked us to all gather round
Then begging for silence he said to us – I’ll bet
You’re wondering what this is about
I’ve come here to ask you to fight for your king
And just think of the wonders you’ll see
As you’re fighting through Portugal, then into Spain
And you march into Paris with me
Well he gave us his patter and bought us all drink
Man the booze never seemed to run dry
He called us his comrades and said – May the Lord
Strike me down if you’d think that I’d lie
Next morning I woke with my head on the floor
And a shilling held tight in my fist
Then with kicking and swearing he got us outside
And said – I always knew you’d enlist
Soon you’ll be going to fight for your king
And just think of the horrors you’ll see
As you’re slogging through Portugal, then into Spain
If you live you’ll reach Paris with me
He lined us all up and he marched us away
With our hungover heads full of pain
We staggered and stumbled but he didn’t care
He just called us his fine marching men
The regiment – he said – needs good fighting men
They’ll be proud to take men such as we
Today you’re just ragged-arsed wasters of space
But tomorrow its soldiers you’ll be
You’ll stand tall and straight and parade for your king
And just think of how proud you will feel
To be sent out to Portugal, then into Spain
And to march into Paris with me
So we’ve finished our training and now we’re embarked
On some hulk that’s not fit for the sea
We’re going to kill Frenchmen for ten pence a day
Assuming the French don’t get me
And that big bastard Sergeant is still back at home
With his patter and piper and drum
Pouring drink into gullible arseholes like me
And enticing the fools to sign on
I’ll fight for the king - but that sergeant I hate
With a passion you would not believe
And that hatred will guide every step that I take
And will march into Paris with me
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11. |
The Last Of Your Line
03:53
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Last of Your Line
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
Born into this world of your mother’s pain
I saw you stand for the very first time
Will we ever see your likes again?
Or will you be the last of your line?
Will you be the last of your line?
You were bred for the strength you would bring to the toil
To take the load off the working man
And with a gentle grace you bore it all
Your power was his to command
You’d dip your head and you’d take the strain
Of the coach or the cart or the plough
But you days are over now
Born into this world…..
When it seemed your power had tamed the land
Did you see how the times moved on?
You were never enough for the wants of man
His need for your gifts had gone
History just passed you by
And you watched as it rolled along
Your glory days were gone
Born into this world…..
Your feather feet rise and your feather feet fall
As you pound the earth and you pull the plough
Your work was hard and your days were long
Now your working days are done
Now you’re pulling carts at the county shows
People stare amazed at your size
And you’re all dressed up in your ribbons and bows
In the hope of a winner’s prize
But you know your worth – are you marking time
Are you playing a waiting game
‘Till your time comes ‘round again
Born into this world….
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12. |
Alright With Me
03:57
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All Right With Me
(Dave Gibb mcps/prs)
And she lay with me all night long
And she sat with me and she sang me pretty songs
And the world’s all right with me
And she took my hand and led me through the sweet black night
And we passed the gates at midnight as the moonlight died
And the world’s all right with me
And she walked with me through fields of golden corn
And she gazed with me in wonder at the rising sun
And the world’s all right with me
And she reminded me of things I know I should have said
Tend your memories – she whispered – and they’ll never fade
And the world’s all right with me
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Dave Gibb Wanlockhead, UK
Left Handed, Balding, Post Menopausal, Songwriting Folky from Scotland’s Highest
Village.
A singer of songs and a teller of tales from the hills of Dumfries & Galloway who happily fingerpicks his way through life’s travails.
Songs funny or sad, happy or grim, meaningful or meaningless played fast or slow (sometimes both at the same time)…….He likes a giggle.
... more
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