Name: Clifton
Duration: P00H06M12S
Description: In a village in northern England (Clifton) lie the remains of both Jacobite insurgents - fleeing back to Scotland - and their English adversaries. It was the last 'battle' fought on English soil (1745). But really, what was the point? Because whatever the conflict families on both sides mourn their dead.

Clifton

from Windhover by Jeremy Harmer

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In a village in northern England (Clifton) lie the remains of both Jacobite insurgents - fleeing back to Scotland - and their English adversaries. It was the last 'battle' fought on English soil (1745). But really, what was the point? Because whatever the conflict families on both sides mourn their dead.

lyrics

Clifton

They fled from Derby, heading north
Prince Charlie’s band of doubtful worth
Cut off in Clifton they took their stand
With Claymore, Broadsword, Targe and gun
So long ago those young men died
Jacobites, king’s men, side by side
And the trees grow tall in the graveyard sun
The birds sing out in the morning dawn
And they lie buried, forgotten, folorn
Someone’s brothers, fathers, (someone’s) sons

The nights grow longer, the curtains drawn
The TV flickers in a million homes
But long ago, from this island’s shore
A young man left to go to war
With countless others, head held high
Enthusiastic, doomed to die
They keep his picture on the wall
Ghost from the past who gave his all
And the face stares out from its faded frame
One of a million who never came home

CHORUS
But across the world under other earth
They too have memories that hurt
Flowers cut down, lives thrown away
Love that’s buried in the dirt
So when the next fight comes along
Will you ask what is it for?
Will you try and heal the hurt
Or will you gayly march (away) to war?

The morning sun shines weakly down
On all the people gathered round
For those who fell and gave their lives
Air echoes with their spectral cries
Rustling leaves, a gentle breeze
For a past that no one knows or sees
Smith, Coleman, Richards, Lamb,
Young men who never lived their span
Names etched deep in weathered stone
Did they die together, or did they die alone?

CHORUS

My grandad who I loved so well
Survived four years of living hell
A good man in a dreadful fight
Quite sure that what he did was just and right.

credits

from Windhover, released November 16, 2021
Written and performed by Jeremy Harmer

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Jeremy Harmer UK

Jeremy Harmer is a multi instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and interpreter in the folk tradition (contemporary & traditional). Described by Unicorn folk magazine as "a 21st century troubadour" he writes about love (and loss), injustice, refugee agony, climate change. His songs are thoughtful, beautiful and sometimes humorous. ... more

otherloves.co.uk

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