Tag Archives: essex

(2015) The Ballad of Hawkwood by Robin Grey

C F
There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland
C F
Mulch, sow and then reap
C C
There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland
C C
And he has green fingers on both of his hands
C Em7 C F C G C
I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me

With a coop of comrades he dreamed a bold dream
To grow food for his kinsfolk as nature decreed.

By the edge the forest they spied a fine patch
And to grow fruit and veg there a plan they did hatch.

But the men of the hour dreamed of buildings not plants
A development would far more there profits enhance.

Our ancestors fought for this fair forest land
So now against the law was the businessman’s plan.

After twelve months had past did the council relent
Now we’ll work the earth as our ancestors meant.

Now if you pass by here you might hear a tune:
Mulch, sow and then reap
Now if you pass by here you might hear a tune,
The melody is old and the words will be soon.
I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me

The Same Sky over All by David Smith

An account of farming in the Chelmsford area of Essex

Another book in the same genre as ‘Where Beards Wag All‘ which perfectly and poetically captures the last days of pre mechanised peasant agriculture in Essex and the first steps of the transition into fossil fuel fuelled farming. Simply and beautifully written, a good way to look back to look forward