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ALBUM: Songs for the Wood

by Talis Kimberley

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1.
LADIES OF THE BOWER Proud Lovage and sweet Tansy The Ladies of the bower Rule gently their domain here By foliage and flower Feverfew’s their trusted chamberlain Chamomile their dearest friend While Yarrow and good lemon balm Their fair court still attend Angelica grows stately Bronze Fennel stands beside Here’s Chervil and Sweet Woodruff The bridegroom with his bride Here’s Goldenrod and Mace and Thyme Demozels to Summer’s Rose And the seasons are the sweeter For this benison that grows Here’s herbs to bring you comfort And herbs to dull your pain Come make their close acquaintance Learn their natures and their names Here’s herbs to calm your breathing, Healing herbs to bring you ease They’re a gift to grace the garden And a blessing to the bees Proud Lovage and Sweet Tansy-herb, The ladies of the bower Invite you to their court here Of foliage and flower __________________________________________ Words & music by & © Talis Kimberley 2012
2.
These Roots 04:26
THESE ROOTS On a damp October morning the seed that grew me fell It landed where the earth was soft, it landed safe and well From seedling into sapling, a tree can take its time Two centuries a sycamore: these roots are mine. One bright September morning foundation stones were laid Strong walls rose up to claim the ground where fox and badger played Fresh brickwork upon brickwork so fast in such short time Around this ageing sycamore – these roots are mine. And all the years, and all the years, and all the years And all the years, and all the years, and all the years Now every Autumn morning they gather here to learn I watch them settle, watch them grow and see them leave in turn But I make no such journey – a tree can take its time Two centuries a sycamore: these roots are mine. And all the years, and all the years, and all the years And all the years, and all the years, and all the years Fill your pockets with the seeds I scatter Fill them good and deep, fill them good and deep Give them to the wind: it doesn’t matter Where or when – the seeds will keep... So I will shade your children and they will carry mine; Two centuries a sycamore: a tree takes time... Two centuries a sycamore: these roots are mine. ___________________________________________ Words & music by & © Talis Kimberley 2013
3.
GOD OF LOST THINGS Street penny sacrament, what are you looking for? Lost in a moment and found I am the god of lost things, and I will look after you Foundling and fallen, not where it ought to be, Mislaid and moved around I am the god of lost things, and I will look after you St Anthony won’t you come round, come round Something is lost, and it needs to be found And I wish that you might and I wish that you may Help me to find what I’m seeking today. Here is the coin that you dropped on the pavement Distracted by music ahead I am the god of lost things and I will attend to you Here are the gloves that you tossed on the pillow That slipped down behind your bed I am the god of lost things and I will attend to you. St Anthony won’t you come round, come round Something is lost, and it needs to be found And I wish that you might and I wish that you may Help me to find what I’m seeking today. I’m a friend to the desparate and daunted Companion to beggars and kings, I do not Envy the thrones of the mighty, I am content As the god of lost things Only don’t ask me for hope or for innocence Keep this in mind as you pray I am the god of lost things but I cannot comfort you Meet me in Padua if you seek pilgrimage Elen will show you the way; I am the god of lost things and I will be there for you. St Anthony won’t you come round, come round Something is lost, and it needs to be found And I wish that you might and I wish that you may Help me to find what I’m seeking today. Help me to find what I’m seeking today. Hear me St Anthony, as I pray. _______________________________________ Words & music by & © Talis Kimberley 2014
4.
THE WHITE SWAN My brothers all I wish you well, I wish you all good things Who have such clever human hands Where once you each had wings Who walk so fine upon the ground Your feathers all long gone; But as I am not man again Let me remain a swan. My sister dear, I wish you well Whose tears I cannot dry Am I denied both human form And the means and strength to fly? Am I to lose my sister’s love Now grief is all her song? Then if I cannot be a man Pray let me a swan Oh let me have my two white wings And let me have the sky I’ll circle round your castle keep And bid you all goodbye I’ll circle once then choose my course And evermore fly on I am no prince, I am no man But I can be a swan. I am no prince, I am no man But I could be a bonny swan. _______________________________________ Words & music by & © Talis Kimberley 2011
5.
IN NORTHUMBERLAND I remember when she came aboard having paid her passage fee I could scarcely take my gaze from her but she never looked at me Not a man who laid a hand on her but was met with sharpened blade So she kept herself in privacy and in privacy she prayed And her hair is like the raven’s wing and her eyes are dark and clear And her heart is in Northumberland and very far from here. Only once she walked the deck at night while we waited for the wind My watch done, I dared to speak with her, could she think of me her friend Oh the tale she gave was wild enough, better lies are often told And she wore great many necklaces and her rings were all of gold And her hair is like the raven’s wing and her eyes are dark and clear And her heart is in Northumberland and very far from here. “This I’ll say, and you will hear me out, then I’ll trouble you no more: If Northumberland is less than kind to you I shall be three weeks ashore” All ashore, and she was gone from me not one single backward glance Three weeks passed and I was bound aboard and I knew I’d little chance. And her hair is like the raven’s wing and her eyes are dark and clear And her heart is in Northumberland and very far from here. All these years I’ve sailed the ocean deep I have held her in my mind And I hope she’s in Northumberland and that Northumberland is kind. Now my home’s whatever ship I’m on and my hearth’s the rolling sea And my true love’s in Northumberland and very far from me. ____________________________________________ Words & music by & © Talis Kimberley 2013

about

**UPDATE** The appeal was a success, the gig was a success, and the wood has been safeguarded. Thank you all so much. TK 16/4/14

* * *

I'm releasing these songs as a fund-raiser to help my village to purchase the adjacent woodland known as Kings Farm Wood, and safeguard it for the community. All funds raised from this, between publication and the end of March 2014, will go to this appeal, which is administered jointly by Wroughton Parish Council and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. I've placed a minimum price of 50p per song on here, but if you want to pay more, of course you can!

The deadline of the end of March is the time by which the community needs to have raised the final £15,000 to purchase the woodland. After that I may rename this digital album and possibly change the songlist.

I'm being a bit cheeky calling this 'Songs for the Wood', of course, except that I do feel the title is entirely appropriate given the circumstances! And besides that, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull is the very special guest at a sold out event to also raise funds for this appeal. My band and I are supporting him. I'm a bit excited about that. Thank you for your support, and do please link and share if you wish!

credits

released March 5, 2014

Talis Kimberley: vocals, guitar
Chantelle Smith: vocals (Track 3)
Audio magic and mixing by Mark Long, who made everything *much* shinier than my little Tascam and I could do alone.
Photograph by P. Fairbourn

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Talis Kimberley UK

"I'm a songwriter and singer; my songs are spun from folklore and history, stirred well with a hazel wand and served with cake. I'll sing you ravens and bones and the story behind the story, I'll sing you bread and apples, ghosts and knitting, and bring you home with a pocketful of feathers and hope"

Voice / guitar / English concertina

Festivals, folk clubs, libraries, museums, & protests...
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