The loss of the common lands, through the Enclosures and all other appropriations, is one of the major injustices to befall the common people. Though current planning law effectively removes any possibility of reversing that, this song is both a lament for that loss and a suggestion that maybe all is not lost after all.
lyrics
The Common Lands of England
The common lands of England are gone beneath the plough
Where once a thousand flowers grew, only one grows now.
No place for the nightjar, in miles of shimmering corn
That give no way to the ancient lay of this land where we were born,
And we do our bit for Nature, in the name of all that's green,
Publicise the planet, and try to keep it clean,
But with nowhere for our wilderness, our common ground's near gone,
We're losing that old connection, to this land where we born.
The common lands of England sustained ten thousand years
Of hunters, farms and gardeners, ancestor and heir,
With countless sacred places for countless holy dawns,
All ploughed beneath the furrows of this land where we were born.
And wouldn't it be good ………… wouldn't it be grand ……….. wouldn't it be just fine
If they gave it all back?
And what would they say ………. what would they do ……… what would they say if they knew
We want it all back?
The common lands of England were once a common wealth
With all beholden to the land for harvest home and health,
But now the owners' fences say our ancient paths are turned,
We've nothing left in common, in this land where were born.
So do your bit for Nature, in the name of all that's green,
Shout about, sing about, write about the planet, and try to keep it clean,
But with nowhere for our wilderness, our common ground's near gone,
Are we lost ……… in this land where we were born?
And wouldn’t it be good ……… wouldn’t it be fine ………… wouldn’t it be just grand
If they gave it all back?
And what would they say …….. what would they do ………. what would they say if they knew
We could take it all back?
credits
from Firegazing,
released September 17, 2017
Written by Brian Boothby
Acoustic Guitar: Chris Ellis
Fretless Bass: Dave Sturt
Fiddle: Adam Summerhayes
Acoustic Guitar and Vocals: Brian Boothby
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