We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Tales of Common Folk, Salt & Sweet Kisses

by Nigel Parry

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

      $10 NZD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    With personal message inside CD case

    Includes unlimited streaming of Tales of Common Folk, Salt & Sweet Kisses via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days

      $23 NZD or more 

     

1.
Three Danish Galleys Three galleys come sailing to Porlock Side And stole them away a new wed bride Who left my true love, lying dead on the shore Sailing, out and away I never shall see my dear, home no more. Then up to her stepped the Danish King And her he would wed with a golden ring. The bride she made answer her tears between I never will wed with a cowardly Dane. Then out of the galley they tossed the bride And laughed as she drowned in the cruel tide. There came three small galleys from Porlock Bay They fought with the Danes for a night and a day. They fought til the decks with blood ran red And every man of the Danes was dead. Three galleys come sailing to Porlock side ...
2.
Flowers in Autumn She was young and in service He worked with his hands But when their eyes met They were held with invisible bands To a rock on the hillside Together they’d go And gaze to their distant dreams Over the boats moored below But the townsfolk knew he was made Of golden thread And flowers would spring, winter or summer Wherever he’d tread Flowers in Autumn, flowers in autumn Wherever he treads, they said Spring flowers, sweet flowers in autumn Then news of the war came, They couldn't agree When he joined with the other lads And shipped off to sea Only rumours returned All young men were lost The war and the ocean Took a terrible cost The townsfolk knew nature’s call Had less of a song But she scanned the horizon He couldn’t be gone Then one night, Washed up on the tide A raft, with a man, barely alive They just couldn’t leave him Did what they could She knew through his silent eyes, Something was good She took him out walking As his strength slowly grew To a rock on the hillside Over the haven she knew But time came, the townsfolk Started to talk Of flowers that spring, winter or summer Wherever he’d walk Flowers in autumn, flowers in autumn Wherever he treads, they said, Spring flowers Sweet pretty primrosy daffodil flowers Sweet flowers In Autumn
3.
King of Rome 03:30
The King of Rome In the West End of Derby lives a working man, says “I can't fly but my pigeons can. And when I set them free, It's just like part of me Gets lifted up on shining wings.” Charlie ‘udson's pigeon loft was down the yard Of a rented house in Brook Street where life was hard. But Charlie had a dream, And in 1913 Charlie bred a pigeon that made his dream come true. There was gonna be a champions' race from Italy. “We got out the maps, all that land and sea, Charlie, you'll lose that bird.” But Charlie never heard, Put it in a basket and sent it off to Rome. On the day of the big race a storm blew in, A thousand birds were swept away and never seen again. “Charlie, we told you so, Surely by now you know When you're living in the West End there ain't many dreams come true.” “Yeah, I know, but I had to try, A man can crawl around or he can learn to fly. And if you live round here, The ground seems awful near; Sometimes I need a lift from victory.” I was off with my mates for a pint or two When I saw a wing flash up in the blue. “Charlie, it's the King of Rome Come back to his West End home, Come outside quick, he's perched up on your roof.” “Come on down, your Majesty, I knew you'd make it back to me. Come on down, my lovely one, You made my dream come true.” In the West End of Derby lives a working man, says “I can't fly but my pigeons can. And when I set them free, It's just like part of me Gets lifted up on shining wings.”
4.
Rosemary's Rosy Doorway Rosemary’s Rosy Doorway Was the first sight that she saw As her proud father carried her through To show his child to the people he knew In the small village At the end of the road A long way from the town A tiny cottage At the end of the road A long way from the town Rosemary’s rosy doorway Was the best ever sight that she saw As her worried father carried her on Back from the convalescent home Through the small village At the end of the road A long way from the town A tiny cottage At the end of the road A long way from the town Rosemary’s rosy doorway Was the grand welcome home she saw As her proud husband carried her through Waving to all the people she knew In the small village At the end of the road A long way from the town A tiny cottage At the end of the road A long way from the town Rosemary’s rosy doorway Was the best welcome home she adored As she proudly carried her daughter on From maternity ward, back to their home In the small village At the end of the road A long way from the town A tiny cottage At the end of the road A long way from the town (Bridge) But the town spread closer And rich men got richer They wanted a weekender In the quaint little picture Postcard village they found An easy drive from the town. And their money started To tear out the heart Of the village she called home Rosemary’s rosy doorway Was the last sight that she saw As the medics hurriedly stretchered her through Into the dark night lit with flashes of blue In the small village Out on the main road Just at the edge of the town A tiny home left By a busy main road Swallowed up by the town
5.
Nine Pairs of Eyes A stowaway from Italy Came here from New York And found hard work He took his new born family North and Picton bound Fishing in the Sounds A giant spout by his sardine boat Shook Joe Perano’s sails When he calmed he saw a future Hunting for the whales Nine pairs of eyes Scanning the Strait for signs of their prize Three boats away Chasing through the waves to find their prey To keep a family a whale dies Nine pairs of eyes We set up on Lookout Hill Watching the waves below For a humpback’s blow Then down the track and to the chasers Hope five tonnes or more And the engines roar !! We’re firing 14 pounds of death Then air and lines in our spoil We tow ‘em into Tory Channel To flense and boil for oil In ‘62 thousands were taken by Russians and Japanese From Southern Seas So few were left that bitter winter You wonder if whaling pays And you wait ... for days In ‘64 we couldn’t pay When Orca’s boiler failed Now Conservation wants our eyes Still spying for the whales
6.
The Notch 06:22
THE NOTCH You lean on the back of a chair Through glass, a 000 yard stare We’re not looking out for a sail But the spout of a humpback whale And the men run down the trail The tiniest cut in the wood Didn’t do the whale any good A chair roughly made from an old packing case A notch in the side to show who won the chase Or a mark if the whale escaped Our shelter slowly grew As the bitter winters blew Chairs from an old wooden crate Make a perch to lookover the Strait And the whales swim past their fate The tiniest cut in the wood Didn’t do the whale any good A chair roughly made from an old packing case A notch in the side to show who won the chase Or a mark if the whale escaped An old Captain Cooker Became our best mate And tussles with Suzie Would lighten the wait And once, in a beery state The loneliest winter of all After decades up on the hill Thinking of times that had past As the numbers are fading fast Have we just seen our last? The last cut in the wood Didn’t do the whale any good A chair roughly made from an old packing case Just one more notch to show who won the chase Or a mark if the whale escaped We hope we’re not too late.
7.
One Word War 07:54
ONE WORD WAR The glint of the silver cigarette case Exchanged with a man like me A pause in the daily grime and blood Then friend, back to enemy, Bodies in pain and pieces You can’t guess who’ll live on A bullet true or missing Is just a toss of the devil’s coin. One shot And heads or tails will fall One word About the terrible War He would never say any more Black and brass, barrel and bullets Me job to pick off the Hun In the sights a lad like me One shot ... and I’m alone, It could have been anyone given a gun In trench or skeleton tree Nerves on edge, for years on end Then home but never free We marched off under skies of blue To foreign fields of green Turned boggy brown, and bloody too Now just a museum scene, Green grass came back while friends did not Those young men sent to Hell Now graves fill with silent stories They would never tell
8.
THE DAY THE BANK CLOSED ITS DOORS For years it stood in the centre of town Drawing folks in as they walked up and down A castle to commerce, centre of trade With unnatural high windows all etched nice and neat Stone pillars and carvings commanding the High Street A cathedral where now there are none come to pray [Chorus] The day the bank closed its doors for the last time The day the bank closed its doors x2 This town was once a thriving old place The focus of folk who lived miles around But the highway drove by, and took trade away There were still plenty of sheep to shave But the stores are all closed thanks to Pak n Save And the old hotel sign starts to peel and fade [Chorus] The station was the place for folk coming and going Now windowless trains rumble by without slowing Past the old village school, now childless and still [Bridge] This Town Lost its heart and soul The day all those doors closed Though the name lingers on So many have gone. Just letters on a plate by the speed limit sign A word on the map by a big yellow line The town struggles on, while the world hurries by. [Chorus]
9.

about

Featuring some of New Zealand’s finest folk musicians, the listener is taken on a reflective journey from the decline of Kiwi rural towns, through stories of Marlborough Sounds whalers, love and loss in olden times, even a Viking raid.

credits

released April 3, 2022

Nigel Parry - Vocals, guitars, Puerto Rican cuatro, U-Bass, percussion, Fx

Alex Hoare - Cello
Chris Penman 3 - Vocals
Darrel Greaney - Vocals
Emily Griffiths - Vocals, fiddle
Don Mackay - Vocals
Gerard Hudson - Vocals
Gordon Chamley - Harmonica
Helen Dorothy 1, 2 - Vocals and guitar on No More
Jude Madill - Vocals
Karen Jones 1, 2 - Harp, vocals
Lelnick - Traditional bagpipes
Murray Kilpatrick - Accordion, vocals
Pat Higgins - Low whistles, wooden flute, vocals
Pete Edge - Vocals
Ruth Prentice - Electronic violin
Tony Burt 2 - Dobro
Tony Hillyard - Vocals

Recorded at Nigel Parry's Southgate Studio.
Additional recording; 1 Tsunami Studios: 2 Curio Music&Film: 3 Mordecai Records
Mixed by Jake Booth, Mordecai Records except No More mixed by Tony Burt, Curio Music&Film.
Mastered by Jake Booth, Mordecai Records

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Nigel Parry New Zealand

Soulful Folkiwi Music
"..rapidly becoming an established player.., bringing his strong, mellow voice and sympathetic guitar sounds to songs old and new, traditional and his own compositions.”

contact / help

Contact Nigel Parry

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Nigel Parry, you may also like: