Based on a ‘true’ story by Arthur Davies who lived in row of converted workers’ cottages in Blaenavon. Originally a farmhouse and three outhouses, the farmer who lived in the end cottage liked his ale, much to his wife’s disapproval. After a particularly heavy session at The Whistle one night, her rantings drove him to lead a cow into the kitchen saying “talk to that!”.
lyrics
Ode to the farm, four buildings in the yard, in the brow of a hill
Cattle in the shed, a barn where they hid from the cold winter chill
When the miners came, work was plentiful to gain
Money there to earn, and land to turn
Tell it to me now, I won’t listen anyhow
Calm you down, calm you down
Labour to give, they need somewhere to live, so the farm becomes a row of homes
Small but you could spit the short walk to the pit - dry and warm, a haven from the storm
Families of ten, crammed like fish into a tin
Mother stays at home, father brings in the dough
Tell it to me now, I won’t listen anyhow
Calm you down, calm you down
So to the tale of the farmer and his ale - he was fond, rather fond of a drop
Lived in number four, often found upon all fours, crawling home, beaten by the hop
Then one night he burst through the door after a thirst
Mrs farmer sighs and begins to ask him why
Soon she starts to jeer but it’s falling on deaf ears
So he leads a cow into the kitchen and pronounced
Tell it to the cow, she might listen to you now
Calm you down, calm you down
credits
from Lord Abergavenny's Hills,
track released March 4, 2015
Darren Black: archtop guitar/vocals
Lennie Harvey: Weissenborn slide guitar
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