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I wake to the radio morning news
Just as the day is dawning
And I watch from the window while a passing cloud
Dulls the hopeful morning
And I wonder will the girl I love
Come back with the morning
But the omen crow at the waking hour
Has given me fair warning
And the heart that's breaking
Never makes a sound
She was once my heart's delight
My need and my desire
She was my day, she was my night
My water and my fire
And I was once the same to her
When we still walked together
But the heavy heart at the waking hour's
Expecting heavy weather
And the heart that's breaking
Never makes a sound
I know love, I've seen love's face
And I understand its sorrow
For every love I've ever had
Has always met tomorrow
Though I am Wednesday's child of woe
I try not to be ungrateful
But I was born at midnight black
With a heart that can be hateful
And the heart that's breaking
Never makes a sound
And the heart that's breaking
Never makes a sound
And the heart that's breaking
Never makes a sound
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As I was a walking one morning in May
I spied a young couple a makin' of hay
O one was a fair maid and her beauty shone clear
And the other was a soldier, a bold grenadier
Good morning, good morning, good morning said he
O where are you going my pretty lady?
I'm a going a walking by the clear crystal stream
To see cool water glide and hear nightingales sing
O soldier, o soldier, will you marry me?
O no, my sweet lady that never can be
For I've got a wife at home in my own country
Two wives and the army's too many for me
As I was a walking one morning in May
I spied a young couple a makin' of hay
O one was a fair maid and her beauty shone clear
And the other was a soldier, a bold grenadier
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Adieu false heart, since we must part
May the joys of the world go with you
I've loved you long with a faithful heart
But I never anymore can believe you
Ive seen the time I'd have married you
And been your constant lover
But now I'd gladly give you up
For one whose heart is truer
My mind is like the constant sun
From the east to the west it ranges
But yours is like unto the moon
It's every month, a changin'
When I lay down to take my rest
No scornful morn to wake me
I'll go straight ways unto my grave
Just as fast as time can take me
Adieu false heart, since we must part
May the joy of the world go with you
I've loved you long with a faithful heart
But I never anymore can believe you
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She sees the pale gold August wheat,
The oaken greens of home,
A mind’s-eye Norfolk harvest wrapped
Around October’s bones.
6 paces off, 8 rifles point,
Death scarves her blue-grey eyes,
The woman stands and prays and waits
And still no shot arrives.
Her life is flashing by, the days
With Eddy on the beach
‘When life was fresh and beautiful,
The country dear and sweet.’
‘Love of country’s not enough
And when they shoot me dead
Let bitterness and hatred die,’
Our Norfolk angel said.
The clinic clean and welcoming
The poor and most forlorn;
A mother to her nurses clad
In angels’ uniforms.
A spider crawled across the floor,
One screamed, would stamp it dead,
‘A woman doesn’t take a life,
She gives it,’ Edith said.
The British held the line at Mons,
The French were in retreat,
All stranded men came to her door
Through Brussels’ conquered streets.
‘Love of country’s not enough
And when they shoot me dead
Let bitterness and hatred die,’
Our Norfolk angel said.
One nurse too hot for Prussian pride
They bullied as a spy,
Ede sent her home – with army secrets
Bandaged to her thigh!
La Libre Belgique was her text,
The Life of Christ her God;
Said Pinkhoff, Bergan, Mayer, Quien:
‘Give her the firing squad.’
4 sneaks and spies to smoke her out,
3 days’ interrogation.
She wouldn’t lie…. They shot her dead
For love of more than nation.
‘Love of country’s not enough
And when they shoot me dead
Let bitterness and hatred die,’
Our Norfolk angel said.
© Gareth Calway 2015.
Lyric first published in the 'Eastern Daily Press' as "The Ballad of Edith Cavell" and then in my Poppyland collection 'Doin Different; 39 'New Ballads from the East of England.'
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