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Michael's Orchard

from These Quiet Places by Colum Sands

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lyrics

Michael’s Orchard
Words and Music Colum Sands ©Elm Grove Music

Ah you’ll never grow an apple tree in this part of the country
For the weather here is wintry and the wintry weather’s wild
You’ll never grow an apple tree in this part of the country
For apples never grew here since Adam was a child.

For there’s salt upon the breath of the breezes from the ocean
And there’s frost upon the fingers of the fog at blossom time
You’ll never grow an apple tree in this part of the country
The old men chewed tobacco to the rhythm of their rhyme.

Michael heard their words and he looked across the ocean
Then he stepped around the little field where apples never grew
He chewed a blade of grass, he tasted salt he dreamt of orchards
While the old men watched him fearing he might teach them something new.

Killyballyowen watched him as he planted trees of shelter
Cross and Rehy watched him as the ash and rowan grew
Michael watched their colours change from springtime into autumn
And he knew that far above him time was watching too.

Michael felt the wind and years come flying up the Shannon
But his trees had taken root and their shelter warmed him too
He grafted hopes and dreams and he planted for tomorrow
And sheltered in his careful hands the little orchard grew.

He lived to see the apples and he watched his children taste them
While the old men chewed tobacco to the rhythm of their rhyme
For you who dare to dream the songbirds sing on branches
And your children’s play in the apple blossom time.

credits

from These Quiet Places, released February 16, 2023
Colum Sands: vocals & guitar
with Ger Farrelly: piano, Sinead Stone: backing vocals

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Colum Sands Newry, UK

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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