Fairport Convention - John Lee (Live On `The Man They Could Not Hang`, 1975)

John Lee, your headache's growing, the cold wind's blowing
But the sea's without a ripple
John Lee, your forehead's damp, your muscles cramp
And the sea can't use a cripple

John Lee, you're turning around your fate again
Oh, John Lee
John Lee, you're turning around your fate again
Oh, John Lee
John Lee's been made a freeman, his heart's a seaman
But his flesh won't make a sailor
Working in a big hotel, waiting for the bell
That's ringing for his labour

John Lee, your chances are good, you better touch wood
We think things must get better
John Lee, you've a friend so true, she wants to help you
Miss Keyes has sent a letter

Dear John, come and work at The Glen, just write me when
And I'll send someone to meet you
John's gone to where he started from, he's not worked long, just beginning to belong
It hasn't been a very good day, the missus wants to halve my pay
Close the door and douse the light, it's quiet at night when he's tucked in tight
Sometimes I feel, when they're all in bed, it's almost like the whole world's dead
So I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee Lord my soul to keep

The customary quiet of Babbacombe, a residential suburb of
Torquay, was greatly disturbed early on Saturday morning
And the peaceful inhabitants were aroused to a state of intense
Alarm and terror by one of the greatest tragedies
That human devilment could plan or human deed could perpe
Trate The name of the victim was Miss Emma Anne Whitehead
Keyes, an elderly lady of some sixty eight years The name
Of her home and the scene of her tragedy, was 'The Glen' She
Was found early in the morning, lying on her dining room
Floor Her throat had been horribly cut and there were three
Wounds on her head It was evident that her murderer had also
Attempted to burn the corpse
John Lee, your headache's growing, the cold wind's blowing
But the sea's without a ripple
John Lee, your forehead's damp, your muscles cramp
And the sea can't use a cripple

John Lee, you're turning around your fate again
Oh, John Lee
John Lee, you're turning around your fate again
Oh, John Lee
John Lee's been made a freeman, his heart's a seaman
But his flesh won't make a sailor
Working in a big hotel, waiting for the bell
That's ringing for his labour

John Lee, your chances are good, you better touch wood
We think things must get better
John Lee, you've a friend so true, she wants to help you
Miss Keyes has sent a letter

Dear John, come and work at The Glen, just write me when
And I'll send someone to meet you
John's gone to where he started from, he's not worked long, just beginning to belong
It hasn't been a very good day, the missus wants to halve my pay
Close the door and douse the light, it's quiet at night when he's tucked in tight
Sometimes I feel, when they're all in bed, it's almost like the whole world's dead
So I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee Lord my soul to keep

The customary quiet of Babbacombe, a residential suburb of
Torquay, was greatly disturbed early on Saturday morning
And the peaceful inhabitants were aroused to a state of intense
Alarm and terror by one of the greatest tragedies
That human devilment could plan or human deed could perpe
Trate The name of the victim was Miss Emma Anne Whitehead
Keyes, an elderly lady of some sixty eight years The name
Of her home and the scene of her tragedy, was 'The Glen' She
Was found early in the morning, lying on her dining room
Floor Her throat had been horribly cut and there were three
Wounds on her head It was evident that her murderer had also
Attempted to burn the corpse
FAIRPORT CONVENTION "Breakfast at Mayfair" (1975)

Lyrics & music by Simon Nicol. Recorded 1 February 1975 for the television programme "The Man They Could Not Hang".

Fairport Convention - Farewell to a Poor Man's Son

In memory of Dave Swarbrick.

Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and electric folk band. Formed in 1967, they are widely regarded as the most important group in the English folk rock movement. Their seminal album...

Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention