Lyrics

THE SONG OF THE HARROW AND THE PLOW

Can you hear me call to you

by elsie gawler

music is flowing through the trees

glittering stars they touch the leaves

glinting their joy all around

your song it makes the woods resound

> oh can you hear me call to you…

its a song that’ll guide you through the dark...

down this rough and rocky road

on quiet feet we go

when all is dark we’ll find the light

you’re shining brightly in the night

> oh can you hear me call to you…

its a song that’ll guide you through the dark

oh the fox she walks along

as we sing aloud our song

cast the magic, spread it wide

your hand is soft and warm in mine

> oh can you hear me call to you…

its a song that’ll guide you through the dark

sweet as honey

by elsie gawler

can i grace your ears with these notes

and travel through your bones on their way home

can i touch your heart ‘cause you’re filling mine

and it’s sweet as honey when we’re keepin’ time

it’s sweet as honey in time

did i ever ask you did i ever need to

does the sun ever ask to shine

no it’s harmony in one, two, three

and sweet as honey when we’re keepin’ time

it’s sweet as honey in time

and oh, this time it’s flowing

and mmm, them spring winds are blowing

and ah, just as sweet as can be

and it’s sweet as honey

it’s sweet as honey, sweet as honey in time

oh so, hoist the sail and raise the anchor

this golden thread is launching off the shore

soft hands weave and joyous voices lead

they lead us to the space where we’re keepin’ time

it’s sweet as honey in time

it’s sweet as honey in time, it’s sweet as honey in time

so, here we are in the morning sun

the scent of flowers is sweet in the air

spring always leads to beauty it seems

there’s beauty in this heart as we’re keepin’ time

it’s sweet as honey in time

it’s sweet as honey in time, it’s sweet as honey in time…

DIP AND SWAY

by elsie gawler

and darling sing, along with me

and let your voice blow away in the breeze

mmmmmmm...

and lift up your voice in song, we’ll carry each other along

our hearts they beat, they beat as one

so darling dip and sway, we dance with the ocean today

and feel the motion move in you

so darling sing, along with me

and let your voice blow away in the breeze

just let your voice blow away in the breeze

darling dip and sway, across the ocean today

and feel the water soak in your skin

i hear you next to me, in perfect harmony

let’s let the time slip away

and darling sing, along with me

and let your voice blow away in the breeze

mmmmmmm…

feel the rhythm in your soul, there’s not a thing i could want more

than to be in this moment, moment in time

breathe in the salty air, and close your eyes my dear

just let the waves move us along

spring on the mountain

by elsie gawler

for the birds they are returning oh they carry on their wings

the scent of something warmer they bring remembering

let go, let go, let go of your ice and snow

let it run down this mountain cleansing the ground below

for the seeds they are a’waiting when touched by sun and rain

when this mountain lets go they embrace and sprout again

one morning, one morning the sun spoke up

and she whispered in our ears tales of warmer days

and through the haizeness i heard her call

and in the dusky morning light oh the hermit thrush sings bright

so it’s time to go, run and sleep no more

greet all that is living rejoice and sing in the spring

as i wandered ore the mountain ‘neath a little mound of clay

i will rest this weary body ‘neath the roots i will stay

for the cold it is a’coming oh the birds they told me so

i will sleep and i will dream beneath these fallen leaves

for all it is quiet, it is tranquil, it is calm

rest now my pretty mountain rest deep and rest long

we will sleep until the morning oh the hermit thrush sings her song

until the woodcock takes flight and sounds his spring alarm

then one morning, one morning the sun spoke up

and she whispered in our ears tales of warmer days

and through the haizeness i heard her call

ohh and in the dusky morning light oh the hermit thrush sings bright

so i raise my head to greet her and open these sleepy eyes

breathe in the sweetest air breathe in this breath of life

Don’t forget to sing

by elsie gawler

and don’t forget to sing oh la-de-da-de-da

i’ll remind you if your remind me

for the winter is long but song will keep us on

keepin’ us on are the ones of feather blood and bone

my friend your kinship will keep me a’singing

outside my window sun dances on the leaves

if im that tree well then my friends your are the light

without you oh i would surely fall

i bow my branches to you all

and don’t forget to sing oh la-de-da-de-da

i’ll remind you if your remind me

for the winter is long but song will keep us on

keepin’ us on are the ones of feather blood and bone

my friend your kinship will keep me a’singing

looking on in the mirror or my time

what makes this being, this being that i call mine

layer on layer as complex as a rose

oh but there’s one thing i know deep inside these bones

it’s don’t forget to sing oh la-de-da-de-da

i’ll remind you if your remind me

for the winter is long but song will keep us on

keepin’ us on are the ones of feather blood and bone

my friend your kinship will keep me a’singing

gather ‘round on the darkest day of the year

and light a fire keep it lit we all are here

bow and string knowing fingers draw a tune

we’ll raise our voices and we’ll sing to the rising moon

come what may

by elsie gawler

and the sun will dance across the sky

the moon will sing as she goes

and at the break of dawn come what may

i know you will find your way my dear

i know you will find your way

and as day draws near the evening clears

the stars they guide your way

stars never lead you astray

and the sun will dance across the sky

the moon will sing as she goes

and at the break of dawn come what may

i know you will find your way my dear

i know you will find your way

i know you will find your way my dear

i know you will find your way

on you walk into the woods

steady as you go my dear

steady as you go

though the path is rough and steep at times

there’s strength in your heart you’ll find my dear

there’s strength in your heart you will find

and the sun will dance across the sky

the moon will sing as she goes

and at the break of dawn come what may

i know you will find your way my dear

i know you will find your way

and the oak tree knows the seed she grows

holds the world inside it’s shell my dear

you hold the world inside yourself

and if you listen close to the tall tall pines

you’ll know they are by your side my dear

they’re always by your side

papa’s my witness

by elsie gawler

and i’ve seen those three birds, they’ve taken to the sky

and there’s a knowing in the songs they sing

and they tell me to listen to mine

so throw these arms open wide i’ll take to the sky i’ll be singing on the wing

and there’s a breeze that’ll carry me softly gentile as the arms that guide my way

la dedo…

well papa’s my witness, i hear your call

and she’s the one who’s always there inside of it all

so throw these arms open wide i’ll take to the sky i’ll be singing on the wing

and there’s a breeze that’ll carry me softly gentile as the arms that guide my way

mmmmmmm...

well papa’s my witness, i hear the distant call

it’s the one that’s been planted at the beginning of it all

and sister’s my witness, i hear the rising call

and it’s the one that’s been growing through every spring and fall

la la deda deda dedo…

and brother’s my witness, i dear the present call

and it’s the one that i’ve always known through every rise and fall

and mam’s my witness, i hear the thundering call

i am listening, i am listening, listening to it all

oh la la deda deda dedo…

follow the fox

by elsie gawler

so follow follow that whale in the night…

and we’ll sing sing sing till the morning light…

and follow follow your heart in the night…

it’ll lead you home in the morning light…

and follow follow our earth in the night…

if we keep her whole till the morning light…

and follow follow your friends in the night…

and we’ll love love love till the morning light…

so follow follow that fox in the night…

and we’ll run run run till the morning light…

follow follow that fox in the night

follow ooo it’ll sure do you right

and we’ll run run run till the morning light

we’ll run run run till the morning light

and we’ll run run run till the morning light

we’ll run run run till the morning light

follow follow the moon in the night…

and we’ll shine shine shine shine till the morning light…

and follow follow that heron in the night…

and we’ll fly fly fly till the morning light…

close your eyes

by elsie gawler

and as the moon walks the sky you and i

we’ll drift away in the arms of the night

and as the moon walks they sky you and i

we’ll drift away in the arms of the night

so close your eyes, and drift away tonight

close your eyes

close your eyes

close your eyes, and drift away tonight

catch a ride, on the tails of the notes as they fly by

and as the moon walks the sky you and i

we’ll drift away in the arms of the night

and as the moon walks they sky you and i

we’ll drift away in the arms of the night

close your eyes, and drift away tonight

let the stars, weave a web of dreams behind your eyes

THE SONG OF THE HARROW AND THE PLOW

poem by: Holman F. Day from his book “Up In Maine” written in the year 1900

melody by Elsie Gawler

some words adapted by elsie gawler (in parenthesis)

And they’ve pitched the tune to a jubilant strain.

They are lilting it merrily now.

It is the song we wait for here up in Maine,

It’s the song of the harrow and plow.

And every nose is sniffing at the scent of furrowed earth,

And every man (woman) is living all of life at what it’s worth.

Though the farmer in Aroostook sails across a velvet field,

And his (her) mellow, crumbly acres vomit forth a spendthrift yield,

All the rest are just as cheerful on their hillside farms as he (she)

For there’s cosy wealth in gardens and a fortune in a tree.

And the man (woman) who rides the planter or who plods the broken earth

Joins and swells the mighty chorus of the season’s budding mirth

And they’ve pitched the tune to a jubilant strain.

Lilting it merrily now.

It is the song we wait for here up in Maine,

It’s the song of the harrow and plow.

So they’re singing the song of the coming the of Spring,

And the song of the empty mow;

Of the quiver of birth that is stirring the earth,

It’s the song of the harrow and plow.

From the acres of Aroostook, broad and mellow in the sun,

Down to rocky York, the chorus of the farmers has begun.

They are riding in Aroostook on a patent sulky plow,

They are riding, taking comfort, for they’ve learned the secret how.

They are planting their potatoes with a whirring new machine,

Driver sits beneath an awning; slickest thing you’ve ever seen.

There is not a rock to vex ’em in the acres spreading wide,

So they sit upon a cushion, cock their legs, and smoke and ride.

And they’ve pitched the tune to a jubilant strain.

They are lilting it merrily now.

It is the song we wait for here up in Maine,

It’s the song of the harrow and plow.

Gee and Bright go lurching onward in the furrow’s mellow steam;

Over there, with clank of whiffle, tugs a sturdy Morgan team.

And the man who rides the planter or who plods the broken earth

Joins and swells the mighty chorus of the season’s budding mirth.

They are picking rocks in Oxford, and in Waldo blasting ledge,

And they’re farming down in Lincoln on their acres set on edge.

Down among the kitchen gardens of the slopes of Cumberland

They’re sticking in the garden sass as thick as it will stand.