1. |
Change Is Gonna Come
04:58
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There’s a mighty river flowing, flowing throughout this land
It calls to me we can be free, time to make a stand
There’s too much pain and suffering there’s healing to be done
It’s time to make a difference for change is gonna come
The river is a shining, shining on my face
As I lift my eyes I wonder why some hold onto blind faith
These trials and tribulations of banging the same old drum
It’s time to make a difference for change is gonna come
Chorus
Change is gonna come, change is gonna come
In the words of the song it won’t be long
For change is gonna come
The river is a winding, winding its way on down
Let’s get to work to release the hurt that blights every town
We’ll wipe away transgressions and find a new chord to strum
It’s time to make a difference for change is gonna come
Chorus
The river is a singing, singing its way back home
What comes around goes around in this mind we call our own
There’s a time for contemplation a time for being one
It’s time to make a difference for change is gonna come
Chorus
The river has grown silent, silent as it moves
As it opens out there’s no self doubt, there’s nothing left to prove
There’s just an endless constant streaming of a melody that’s sung
It’s time that makes the difference, hear the change that’s gonna come
Chorus
In the words of the song it won’t be long
For change is gonna come
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2. |
Cold Wind
02:46
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Why do you fret Rabbie my son?
Why do you fret my favourite one
I dream of a future where nothing is broke
Morality counts when complicity chokes
Beauty it triumphs on modernity’s patch
Truth it abounds for conceit is no match
There’s a cold, cold, cold wind blowin’ outside
What will you do Rabbie my son?
What will you do my favourite one?
I’ll fix what I can and leave what I can’t
Think for myself and always gives thanks
Sharpen my senses in the midst of the fog
Trust in the power of life’s daily slog
There’s a cold, cold, cold wind blowin’ outside
How can I help Rabbie my son?
How can I help my favourite one?
Catch me a dove to fly all around
Make me a bed when I want to lie down
Stitch me a coat full of colours so bright
So I can still dream in the dark of the night
There’s a cold, cold, cold wind blowin’ outside
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3. |
Saddle My Horse
02:06
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Gentlemen and brethren, if I die this day,
In defense of the nation, I want to say,
These laws and liberties are all wrong,
Clouded in ignorance for so long.
Though I am sure, no man was born,
Marked of a God, above another one,
For none has a saddle placed on his back,
To be ridden and kicked with spurs an’ that.
Saddle my horse, and I’ll bid thee farewell,
I travel light, for I’m bound for Hell,
But I’m not about to burden myself with sin,
Serving two masters through thick and thin.
I don’t need a hood, and I don’t need a mask,
I don’t need a disguise, to discharge my task,
Reason’s my power and truth is my blade,
I’ll stand firm against the devil’s tirade.
This old gray mare, she knows the way,
She’s been there before, I hear people say,
I can ride this horse like the best of men,
To champion the cause of freedom again.
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4. |
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Now simmer blinks on flow'ry braes,
And o'er the crystal streamlet plays,
Come, let us spend the lightsome days,
By the fa’s o’ Moness, in Aberfeldy the day.
Chorus
Bonnie lassie, will ye go,
will ye go, will ye go,
Bonnie lassie, will ye go
Tae the fa’s o’ Moness, in Aberfeldy the day?
The little birdies blithely sing,
While o'er their heads the hazels hing;
Or lightly flit on wanton wing,
O’er the fa’s o’ Moness, in Aberfeldy the day.
Chorus
The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foaming stream, deep-roaring, fa's,
O'er-hung wi’ fragrant spreading shaws,
The fa’s o’ Moness, in Aberfeldy the day.
Chorus
The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi’ flowers,
White o'er the linns the burnie pours,
And, rising, weets wi' misty showers,
The fa’s o’ Moness, in Aberfeldy the day.
Chorus
Let fortune's gifts at random flee,
They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me,
Supremely blest wi' love and thee,
By the fa’s o’ Moness, in Aberfeldy the day.
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5. |
Liverpool's John
03:22
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Oh Liverpool’s John to the road you’ve gone, far away from your native shore
You’ve gone with the apple of your eye in search of something more
All the while, the powers that be, they stalked you inch by inch
If truth be told, you were so bold, and never once did you flinch
You left behind your own kind for a better life to come
You were but a minstrel boy, and you would not be outdone
Oh Liverpool’s John you were brave and strong, and yes you took some flack
But you journeyed on so far from home with a guitar strapped on your back
The songs you wrote, you clearly spoke, and trumpeted a new day
You questioned war and longed for peace; said love will find a way
But Liverpool’s John the road’s so long and the water is so wide
Ah, bad luck to the day that you went away so far from Merseyside
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6. |
Blue Devil
02:50
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I went off to the city, left my home town.
Took a trip to the North Country. still I’m feeling down.
This blue devil I know, I don’t like him, you know,
This blue devil I know, he’ll be the death of me.
Send out for whisky, get me some moonshine,
Do a little drinking with me; it’ll help me to feel fine.
This blue devil I know, I don’t like him, you know,
This blue devil I know, he’ll be the death of me.
The sorrow that I’m feelin’, it hurts and pains me so,
I need a little comfort lord, when I’m laid low.
This blue devil I know, I don’t like him, you know
This blue devil I know, he’ll be the death of me.
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7. |
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There was a brave soldier, there was a brave soldier
There was a brave soldier, who went off to fight
He was born in Caledonia, born in Caledonia
Born in Caledonia, he was taught to do right
They gave him a rifle and an Army pack
Said go patrol the border in the south of Iraq
Our country’s at war as we’re fighting for
Our freedom and peace like we’ve done before
But he was just a young soldier, just a young soldier
Just a young soldier, so far from home
He was born in Caledonia, born in Caledonia
Born in Caledonia, but no more would he roam
While out in his jeep near Basra town
A bomb exploded, hidden under the ground
He was killed in an instant, in the blink of an eye
The first British soldier in the conflict to die
Sound the fife lowly, sound the fife lowly
Sound the fife lowly and lay him to rest
Born in Caledonia, born in Caledonia
Born in Caledonia, he was one of the best
His mother she asked why was he sent
Such a meaningless waste he should never have went
She campaigned for an inquest, why he did die
To find out the truth, to end all the lies
The bugle is blowin’, bugle is blowin’
Bugle is blowin’, it’s blowin’ so loud
Born in Caledonia, born in Caledonia
Born in Caledonia, his death would be avowed
Whitehall were found guilty of downright neglect
Unlawful killing was the verdict
They tried to suppress the documents
That said her son didn’t get the right equipment
Ring the bells clearly, ring the bells clearly
Ring the bells clearly ‘til justice is done
Born in Caledonia, born in Caledonia
Born in Caledonia, his memory lives on
His mother she asked to meet Tony Blair
To charge him with murder for this ghastly affair
For the crimes he committed in the names of us all
And for all who have died in this illegal war
Beat the drums slowly, beat the drums slowly
Beat the drums slowly ‘til Blair he goes down
For the mothers and families, mothers and families
Mothers and families and all of their sons
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8. |
The Prentice Bard
02:51
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I’ve been away; I’ve travelled so hard,
Been all at sea Rabbie ma Bard,
Been chasing the deer and following the roe,
Your music it fills me wherever I go.
Chorus
Been to the Highlands and been to the Lowlands,
Now I’m a-longing to sit by your side;
Crossed the wild streams, I’ve followed my dreams,
I’ll be your prentice if you be my guide?
Oh what I’d give to walk in your shoes,
No words can explain my feelings for you,
My heart is not here, but there on your shore,
Where hope it springs forth and love it does pour.
I’m on my way; I’m rovin’ once more,
I’m homeward bound to your front door,
Maker o’ rhymes, I’ll ring your bell,
I’ll write a new song wi’ your good sel’.
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9. |
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Last night I dreamt I saw Rabbie Burns,
Alive as you and me,
Says I to him “Ye’re long time deid;”
“I never died” says he,
“I never died” says he.
Though ye were a ploughman lad,
And wore the hoddin gray,
There’s many a laurel wreath’s been laid;
Says Rabbie “I never died,”
Says Rabbie “I never died.”
You starved and struggled to pay the rent,
The landlords kept you down,
Till your broken hert could take nae mair;
You died from overwork,
You died from overwork.
“No I ain’t dead”, he says to me,
“Rabbie ain’t dead” says he,
Takes more than work to kill a man,
“I never died” says he,
“I never died” says he.
Standing there as bold as brass,
Wi’ laughter in his eyes,
“Nae landlordism will e’er cage me,”
“I didn’t die” says he,
”I didn’t die” says he.
“I may be poor” he says to me,
“But wealth is many things,
My passions they are vent in rhyme,
To quell the Deil in me,
To quell the Deil in me.
Kings and courtiers may rise and fa’,
This world has many turns,
But it’s on the side o’ the Common Man,
“Where you’ll find me” says he,
“Where you’ll find me” says he.
Last night I dreamt I saw Rabbie Burns,
Alive as you and me,
Says I to him “Ye’re long time deid;”
“I never died” says he,
“I never died” says he.
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Alan Dickson Glasgow, UK
Scottish singer songwriter Alan Dickson was born in Leith but now based in Glasgow. Alan writes about life in Scotland and
beyond, mainly of a personal and political nature.
Descended from a Leith docker, he remarks: "as life mimics art I'm just like my grandfather, only he used a rivet gun and I use a guitar."
Among his influences are Robert Burns, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Dick Gaughan.
... more
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