When The Small Birds Start Leaving

[jonb]

Hi Ally,

Thanks for all the advice re alt. tunings.

I would also love to one day have a go at "When The Small Birds Start Leaving". Was wondering, if you get a mo, if you could post this one up sometime in the future?

Many Thanks

J.

[alistairhulett]

I'll get onto this ASAP, Jon. There's a wee bit of gigging to get done first, mainly a Ewan MacColl show tomorrow night that needs as much prep time as I can manage.
After that, I'll get down to remembering this song and the chords I used for it 'way back when'. Actually, it has been earmarked as a current contender for electrified re-interpretation by my new band The Malkies, so this was timely request. I'll provide some hints for playing it in DADEAB as well as in standard tuning for you, now I know you're on that tack.
Ally

[jonb]

That's great, much appreciated.

Good luck with the gigs. Hope the show went well on the 19th. Ewan MacColl is another songwriter I admire immensely. The Joy Of Living is one of my all time favourite songs. Would have loved to have seen the show. Any plans for The Malkies to play in East Kent anytime soon?

Anyway, all the best
J.

[jonb]

Hi Ally,

Just wanted to wish you a happy new year - hope all is okay

All the best
J

[johnhamill]

When The Wee Birds Start Leaving
Who’ll buy my sweet lavender?, naebody that’s who
The auld painted caravan, tinkies and a’
They look fine on a picture hook hung by the ingle neuk
When we come roon’ the folk a’ turn awa’
We live in a tin box on wheels in a lay-bye
We hang oot oor claes on a line in full view
If there’s at tone we’ll be d**n sure to lower it
Oor right tae exist is aye under review.

Only here under sufferance, not wanted but needed
We camp by the road so it’s always made clear
We know after Harvest Home we won’t be welcome
When the wee birds start leaving it’s time we wurnae here
The church bells were clangin’ oot, ‘Come a’ ye Faithfull’
The faithfull a’ turned oot respectably drab
After the sermon it’s doon tae the Duck and Swan
Tae ward off the weather wi’ the gift o’ the gab
There’s Moses and Abraham, Jesus and Mary
Sinkin’ doon pints in the snug wi’ the Pope
Aye the crack turns as they pour oot the bevvie
The problem wi’ the Gyps is they take too much rope.

The clerk of the parish draws plans tae evict us
The tourists slow down as they drive past and stare
Symbols of freedom, a blight on the landscape
Born out of time like an auld dancin’ bear
I heard someone say as they looked ower the green hills
Why would ye camp where the petrol fumes drift
It’s no’ what we choose, it’s the choice that’s made for us
Here by the roadside we’re easy tae shift.