2 posts tagged “trev teasdel”
The story behind the two songs - (A Cottage in the Country & Song for Baby Sam) Lyrics and audio are below.
Summer of 1974 I made a trip from Coventry to Norwich to visit Steve and Lyndie Brimstone. My father had come from Gt.Yarmouth so I took time out to visit my dad's family. I'd met Lyndie at Arts Umbrella in Coventry - she was studying to be an actress at Brookland's Annex drama college. We'd become close friends and shared the cottage at Shilton for about a year. Along way, while living in Birmingham summer 71 we collected Steve Brimstone (his father was the well known folk singer Derek Brimstone. Not surprisingly Steve was a great guitarist and good friend. By 1974 they had married and were living in Norwich. They rented a house in Gypsy Lane owned by Gypsy Dave (Donovan's manager). In the shed was a writing desk with Donovan Leitch written on the underside and a turtle shell mandolin. While there I explored Norwich and found an Indian Summer album in the second hand record store to my delight (a Coventry band for those who don't know).
I Steve had a copy of his father's new album Mrs Fisher which I enjoyed listening to. Mrs Fisher was my favourite, in two parts - the first in the form of a poem to Derek's clawpicking guitar and the second a song. This was one of Derek's own compositions. I wrote two songs during my week there. The first was a fingerpicking song A Cottage in the Country. Although in actual fact they divorced soon after, while there they were still considering getting a cottage in the country and being self-sufficient. Lyndie often wore long skirts and hand crocheted shawls and Steve had branch out from guitar to play mandolin and fiddle, wore a waste coat and had the feel of a country gent. I picked up on their life-style and wrote this song.
The second song was written for their son Sam who was still a baby at that time. I think it was a bit influenced by some of Woody Guthrie's kids songs. These are first rough recordings. I probably have better and more practised versions somewhere which I'll look out but these give an idea of the songs.
These are not on the new album.
A Cottage in the Country
I see you as an old lady
Sat serenely in your chair
The knitting is in your hand.
In the cradle rocks the bairn.
Though you are still touched by youth
All about you is so slow.
Just as if an old lady
And a rustic quaint.
Chorus
And Oh so slow the river flows
So (oh) slow - Oh...........
Your husband too like a country gent
with his waist coat, pipe and stick.
His head bowed down in a book
as a lazy clock, it does tick.
He with his old mandolin
and expensive violin
Harmonising with the breeze
Like a slow motion sneeze.
Chorus
And oh so slow the river flows
So oh slow oh....
Scrub a dub dub in an old wooden tub
Chop up the tree for fire wood.
Chop up the tree for me,
Chop up the tree for warmth and love.
Your hand tills the land
for food and for sale.
There's a goat in your garden
that gives milk in a pail.
An old wishing well and a chemical loo
A little wayout cottage just suits you.
Brown rice and veg and unleavened bread
You believe you are what you are fed.
Always on the sill lie apple pies
Away with the ring the Jackdaw flies.
A few miles away in a smoky old town
Hard to recall how time merry-goes-round
Outside in the lane, wrapped up in your shawl
Fruit and veg on sale on your stall.
Chorus
And oh so slow that river flows
So oh slow oh
It's strange when you think that not long away
The bairn at your bosom will be making his way
Soon to be at the stage we are now
and we - the older generation.
Chorus
And oh so slow that river flows
So oh slow oh
SONG FOR BABY SAM
c. by Trev Teasdel Norwich 1974
Hello Sam, Eyes wide and beaming,
Smile that is gleaming - down.
Like a sun upon high
You are pie from the sky.
Give a sad little sigh
Sad little Sam - Smile, don't cry.
Hello Sam - face tender and chubby
Hands wet and grubby - yeah.
And "What's that mess on the floor?"
And "And mind your hand in the door"
And "What? Oh you want some more?"
Oh Sam, smile don't snore!
Bridge
With your mother so lovin' and all
You stand tall although you're so small
Hey Sam - chin up and smile -
Each day is a new toy to be explored
And Oh Growing up it takes such a while.
Oh Sam - Please don't look so bored.
Hello Sam - You're Daddy works hard
Hold you in high regard.
And "Oh don't you pull my hair!"
And "Oh, the world is so unfair"
but let's give a little sigh
And Sam - smile don't swear.
Back to the bridge..and finish.
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