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The Travelling People Lyrics
I'm a freeborn man of the travelling people
Got no fixed abode, and no one is my master
Country lanes and byways were always my ways
I never fancied being lumbered
In the open field you could stop and linger
And the small birds sang when wintertime was over
You could pack your load and be on the road
They were good old times for the rover
And sometimes we'd meet up with other people
Hear the news or else swap family information
At the country fair we'd be meeting there
All the peoples of the travelling nation
I've made willow creels and the heather besoms
And I've even done some begging and some hawkin'
And I've lain there spent wrapped up in my tent
And I've listened to the old folks talking
All you freeborn men of the travelling people
Every tinker, rolling stone and gypsy rover
Winds of change are blowing, old ways are going
Your travelling days will soon be over
I'm a freeborn man of the travelling people
Got no fixed abode, and no man is my master
Country lanes and byways were always my ways
I never fancied going faster
Got no fixed abode, and no one is my master
Country lanes and byways were always my ways
I never fancied being lumbered
And the small birds sang when wintertime was over
You could pack your load and be on the road
They were good old times for the rover
Hear the news or else swap family information
At the country fair we'd be meeting there
All the peoples of the travelling nation
And I've even done some begging and some hawkin'
And I've lain there spent wrapped up in my tent
And I've listened to the old folks talking
Every tinker, rolling stone and gypsy rover
Winds of change are blowing, old ways are going
Your travelling days will soon be over
Got no fixed abode, and no man is my master
Country lanes and byways were always my ways
I never fancied going faster
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This folk song written by Ewan MacColl is about Irish travelers, who are considered the gypsies of Ireland and have been similarly discriminated against. It describes their nomadic ways, but also tells about a coming time when they'll no longer need to be nomadic to feel free. In that way I think it's an optimistic song about a freer and much more tolerant future for the world in general. Anyway, Shane sounds a bit listless in this demo (for what reasons we can only guess... :) ), so if you want to listen to the song in all its glory, the Dubliners with Luke Kelly up front do a magnificent version.