Is that yourself? - Indeed it is - Well you're a stranger here,
I don't know when I seen you last, it must be more than a year,
How are you doin'? - I'm not so bad and what about yourself?
- No use complaining I suppose, as long as we've got the health.
Where are you now? - I'm still at home, it's the brother that went away,
My father he said that if one of us left, the other would have to stay,
Sure jobs are gettin' very scarce, the unemployment's a curse,
- But still I suppose as the fella says, it's bad that couldn't be worse.
-Terrible weather altogether, it's never goin' to clear
- Do you know what I'm goin' to tell you though, it's not bad for the time of the year,
Sure a sup of rain never done very much harm, the grass could do with a drop,
I'd pass no remarks on a skift or two, as long as there's not a slap.
- A slap's the last thing that we need, for our wee meadow's in hay,
Do you mind the trade we had last year comin' up thon bit of a brae?
- The mountain's comin' very close, I don't like the look of the sky,
The forecast talked about a change, but you mightn't believe thon boys.
- I suppose I'd better be headin' on, I held you back enough,
I was clearin' up at the back of the house, the garden is very rough,
I broke the spade and it's awkward when you've only got a graip,
And unless I can get the loan of a spade, the garden will have to wait.
- Aye a spade's an awful, missly thing, there's the sun again,
But it's only a pet, it will never keep up, I felt a spit of rain,
- Would you be usin' your spade today? - To tell you the truth I'm not,
For I lent it to you a year ago, and since then I never saw it.
...Ah well, there is no harm in askin’..."
credits
from These Quiet Places,
released February 16, 2023
Colum Sands vocals & guitar with Tommy Sands : vocals,
Anne Sands : bodhran, Ben Sands : mandolin
Colum Sands is a universal storyteller who draws on a long Irish tradition of poetic musicality to weave songs for the
world.
Drawing on countless performances, Sands uses humour and shrewd observation to celebrate what unites rather than what separates. His latest album “Song Bridge” includes many of the songs written for his extensive environmental campaigning over the past two years....more
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