Get all 25 Peggy Seeger releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (2023), First Farewell, The War Game, Love Unbidden - love poems for Irene, Animal Folk Songs for Children ... And Other People, It's Pete, Extinction Rebellion! Right Now! Right Here!, We Remember (Naming of Names), and 17 more.
1. |
Peacock Street
01:49
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PEACOCK STREET
(words, music, ©: Aunt Molly Jackson)
As I was a-walking down Peacock Street
No clothes on my back, no shoes on my feet.
I was cold, I was hungry, it was late in the fall
I knocked down some old big shot, took his money, clothes and all.
Yeah, I took everything that old big shot had
And they called me a robber, they called me bad.
They called me a robber, they called me bad
But misery and starvation done drove me mad.
Chorus
Tell me how long must I look for a job?
I don't want to have to steal,
I don't want to have to rob.
They put me in jail for a year and a day
For taking all that ol' big shot's money and clothes away.
They turned me loose 'bout a hour ago
To walk these ol' streets again in the rain and snow.
I got no money for room rent, I got nothing to eat
You just can't live by walking the street. (Chorus)
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2. |
Hang Me
04:32
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HANG ME
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement: Peggy Seeger, Calum and Neill MacColl
(long-neck 5-string banjo, C-tuning)
supporting vocals: Calum and Neill MacColl
My daddy was a gambler, learned me how to play
My daddy was a gambler, learned me how to play
Said, Son, don't go beggin' while you got your ace and trey.
Way down in old Missouri, sick as I could be (2)
'Long comes a letter: Dear Son, come home to me.
Well, if I'd a-listened to Momma, I wouldn't been here today (2)
But I was young and foolish and easy led astray. So
Chorus
Hang me, O hang me and I'll be dead and gone
Hang me, O hang me, I'll be dead and gone
Well, I don't mind hangin' but you lay in the grave so long
Lay in the grave so long.
Momma and Poppa, little sister make three (2)
Marchin' up that hangin' hill for to see the end of me.
Go send for my two babies to come and see me die (2)
Go send for my two babies for to hang their heads and cry. (Chorus)
They'll put that rope around my neck, they'll pull me very high (2)
Very last words I'll hear 'em say, Won't be long till he die. (Chorus)
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3. |
Wagoner's Lad
03:50
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WAGONER'S LAD
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement, Peggy Seeger and Calum MacColl
(2 guitars, one in tuning D-A-D-G-B-E)
O hard is the fortune of all womankind
They're always controlled, always confined
Controlled by their parents until they are wives
Then slaves to their husbands for the rest of their lives.
O I am a poor girl, my fortune is sad
I've always been courted by the wagoner's lad
He's courted me highly by night and by day
Now his wagon is loaded and he's goin' away.
Your parents don't like me, they say I'm too poor
They say I'm not worthy of entering your door
But I work for my living, my money's my own
And if they don't like me they can leave me alone.
Your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay
Come sit down here by me as long as you may
My horses ain't hungry they won't eat your hay
So fare you well, darlin', no longer to stay.
Your wagon needs greasing, your whip is to mend
Come sit down here by me as long as you can
My wagon is greasy, my whip's in my hand
So fare you well, darlin', no longer to stand.
The heart is the fortune of all woman kind
We're always controlled, always confined
Controlled by our parents until we are wives
Then slaves to our husbands for the rest of our lives.
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4. |
Napoleon
03:45
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NAPOLEON
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement, Peggy Seeger and Calum MacColl
(two guitars; backing guitar tuned to open G with strings tuned down a whole tone: C-F-C-F-A-C)
Old Boney is away from his warring and his fighting
He has gone to the place that he ne'er can take delight in
He may sit down and tell of the battles he has been in
While forlorn he does mourn on the Isle of St. Helene.
No more in St. Cloud is he seen in such splendour
Nor follow with the crowds like the great Alexander
For the prince of Rome and the young prince of Ghana
Say they'll bring their father home from the Isle of St. Helene.
The rude rushing waves all around the shores are washing
And the wild billows heave and the great rocks are dashing
He may look to the moon over great Mount Diana
With his eyes on the waves that surround St. Helene.
Ye Parliaments of England and your Holy Alliance
To the prisoner of war you may now bid defiance
For your base intrigues and your baser misdemeanours
Have caused him to die on the Isle of St. Helene.
Those of ye who have got wealth, pray beware of ambition
For but one degree in fate may reverse your condition
Be ye steadfast in faith for what is to come ye know not
For fear you be betrayed, like him on St. Helene.
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5. |
Molly Bond
02:47
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MOLLY BOND
words, music: traditional USA
If all the girls in London City was placed in a row
Molly Bond she would glitter like the moon in the snow.
She was going to her uncle's when the shower come on.
She sat down under a green tree till the shower pass on.
Her lover was a hunting, a-hunting for swan
In the forest near the green tree when the shower come on.
He went on a-hunting, a-hunting in the dark
And he shot his own true love and he missed not his mark.
With her apron wrapped around her he took her for a swan.
But alas, for all sorrow, he shot Molly Bond.
Then he ran to his father and threw down his bow
Father, dear father, I've shot my dear girl.
With her apron wrapped round her I took her for a swan
But alas, for all sorrow, I've shot Molly Bond.
Down came his father, his hair hangin' grey.
Jimmy, dear Jimmy, don't you run away.
Stay in this county till your trial come on
They never would hang you for shooting of a swan.
If all the girls in London City was placed in a row
Molly Bond she would glitter like the moon in the snow.
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6. |
Roving Gambler
04:07
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ROVING GAMBLER
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement: Peggy Seeger
(5-string banjo tuning: lowC-G-middleC-D-middleC)
I am a roving gambler, gambled all around
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards I lay my money down.
I've gambled down in Washingtown, gambled over in Spain
I'm on my way to Birmingham to knock down my last game.
I had not been in Birmingham many more weeks than three
Till I fell in love with a pretty little girl, she fell in love with me.
She took me to her parlour, she cooled me with her fan
Whispered low in her mother's ear, "I love the gambling man."
O daughter, dearest daughter, how could you treat me so
To leave your dear old mother, with a gambler go?
O mother, dearest mother, you know I love you well
But the love I bear for the gambling man no human tongue can tell.
I would not marry a farmer, he's always in the rain;
The man I want is the gambling man who wears a big gold chain.
I would not marry a doctor, he's always away from home
All I want is a gambling man, he'll never leave me alone.
I would not marry a railroad man, here's the reason why:
I never seen a railroad man a-wouldn't tell his wife a lie.
I hear the train a coming, coming round the curve
A-whistling and a-blowing and a-straining every nerve.
Hear the train a-coming, she's coming round the bend
Prettiest girl as ever I saw's gone with the gambling man.
O mother, dearest mother, forgive me if you can
If ever you see me a-coming back it'll be with the gambling man.
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7. |
Newlyn Town
03:50
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NEWLYN TOWN
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement: Peggy Seeger and Neill MacColl
In Newlyn Town I was bred and born
On Stephen's Green I die in scorn
I served my turn at the weaving trade
But I always was a roving blade.
At seventeen I took a wife
I loved her dearly as I did my life
All for to keep her fine and gay
I went a-robbing on the King's highway.
I robbed Lord Gould and I do declare
I robbed Lady Mansfield in Grosvenor Square
I robbed them all of their gold so bright
And I took it home to my heart's delight.
To Coving Garden we went straightaway
Me and my wife went to the play
Ned Fielding's gang there did me pursue
Taken I was by that cursed crew.
My father cried, I am undone!
My mother wept for her only son
My darlin' screamed and tore her hair
What shall I do? I'm in deep despair.
When I am dead and go to my grave
A decent funereal let me have
Six highwaymen for the carry me
Give them broadswords and sweet liberty.
Six blooming virgins to carry my pall
Give them white gloves and sweet ribbons all
When I am gone they will tell the truth
Here lies a wild and a wicked youth.
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8. |
Dink's Song
02:51
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DINK'S SONG
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement: Peggy Seeger and Neill MacColl
If I had wings like Norah's dove
I'd fly upriver to the one I love
Fare ye well, my honey, fare ye well.
I got a man, he's long and tall
He move his body like a cannonball
Fare ye well, my honey, fare ye well.
One of these days and it won't be long
You'll call my name and I'll be gone
Fare ye well, my honey, fare ye well.
I went to the river, sat down and cried,
Heard you singing on the other side
Fare ye well, my honey, fare ye well.
Late last night it was drizzling rain
Round my heart felt an aching pain
Fare ye well, my honey, fare ye well.
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9. |
Little Birdie
03:28
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LITTLE BIRDIE
words, music: traditional USA
(banjo tuning from the playing of Roscoe Holcombe, Daisy, Kentucky;
from 5th string downward: E-lowC-G-A-D)
Little birdie, little birdie,
Come sing to me your song;
Got a short time to stay here
A long time to be gone.
Little birdie, little birdie,
What makes your wings so blue?
It's nothing but that old grievin',
Grievin' over you.
Little birdie, little birdie,
What makes you fly so high?
Well, I know that my little lover
Is a-waiting in the sky.
Well, I'd rather be in deep darkness
Where the sun don't never shine,
Than for you to be another one's darling
And to know that you'd never be mine.
Well, I'd rather be a little birdie
Sailing over the deep blue sea
Than for to be a married girl
With a baby on my knee.
A married girl sees trouble
Single girl sees none.
You've caused me so much sorrow
Lord, you caused me to do wrong.
Fly down, fly down, little birdie,
Sing to me your song.
O, sing it now while I'm with you
I can't hear you when I'm gone.
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10. |
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LET THEM WEAR THEIR WATCHES FINE
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement: Peggy Seeger, Calum and Neill MacColl
Worked in a town away down south
By the name of Buffalo
Worked in the mill with the rest of the trash
As we're often called you know.
You factory girls who hear this song
Will surely understand
The reason why I love you so
Is I'm a factory hand.
I get up early every morn
I work all day real hard
To buy our little meat and bread
Our sugar, tea and lard.
We work from weekend to weekend
We never lose a day
And when that awful payday comes
We draw our little pay.
We then go home on payday night
And sit down in our chair
The merchant knocks all on the door
He's come to get his share.
When all our little debts are paid
And nothing left behind
We turn our pockets wrong side out
But not one penny can we find.
Our children they grow up unlearned
No time to go to school
Almost before they have learned to walk
They have learned to spin and spool.
The boss man jerks them round and round
And whistles very keen
I'll tell you what, our factory kids
Is really treated mean.
We work from weekend to weekend
We work from soon to late
We got no time to primp and fix
Or dress right up to date.
The folks in town who dress so fine
And spend their money free
They won't look at a factory girl
That dresses like you and me.
As we go walking down the street
All wrapped in lint and string
They call us fools and factory trash
And other low down things.
Let them wear their watches fine
Their rings and pearly strings
But when the day of judgment comes
We'll make them share their pretty things.
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11. |
O The Wind And The Rain
04:36
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O, THE WIND AND RAIN
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement: Peggy Seeger and Calum MacColl
Early one morning in the month of May
O, the wind and rain.
Two sisters went fishing on a hot summer's day
Cryin' the dreadful wind and rain.
Two sweet sisters, side by side
O, the wind and rain
Both of them want to be Johnny's bride
Cryin' the dreadful wind and rain.
Johnny gave the young one a gold ring, (etc)
Didn't give the older one anything (etc)
The sisters went a-walkin' by the water's brim (etc)
The older one shoved the younger one in (etc)
Shoved her in the river to drown
And watched her as she floated down
She floated on down to the miller's dam
Father, father, there swims a swan
The miller ran for his driftin' hook
And pulled that poor girl from the brook
He laid her on the bank to dry
A fiddler man come walkin' by
He saw that poor girl lyin' there
He took thirty strands of her long yellow hair
He made a fiddle bow of her long yellow hair,
He made fiddle-pegs of her little finger bones
He made a fiddle of her little breast bone
With a sound that could melt a heart of stone,
And the only tune that fiddle could play
The only tune that fiddle would play was
Yonder's my sister sittin' on a rock
Tyin' my Johnny a true-love's knot.
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12. |
Home, Dearie, Home
03:48
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HOME, DEARIE, HOME
words, music: traditional USA
arrangement: Peggy Seeger, Cary Fridley, John Herrman, Rosemary Lackey, Vollie McKenzie
The sailor being weary, he hung down his head,
Called for a candle to light him to bed
She lit him to bed as a maiden ought to do
He vowed and declared she should come to him too.
Chorus
And it's home, dearie, home, and it's home you ought to be
Home once again in your own country
Where the oak and the ash and the fine willow tree
Are all a-growing greener in the North Amerikee.
She jumped in beside him to keep herself warm
Thinking, now, a sailor couldn't do her any harm.
He hugged her and he kissed and he called her his dear
Till she wished the short night had been as long as a year. (Chorus)
Early next morning the sailor arose
Into her apron he put hands full of gold
Saying, 'Take this, my dear, it will pay for milk and bread,
It may pay for the lighting of a sailor to bed.' (Chorus)
If I have a baby, what am I the worse?
I've gold in my pocket, I've silver in my purse,
I'll buy me a nurse and I'll pay the nurse's fee
And I'll pass for a maiden in my own country. (Chorus)
If it be a girl, she can wear a gold ring
If it be a boy, he can fight for the king
With his little quartered shoes and the roundabout so blue
He can walk the quarterdeck the way his daddy used to do. (Chorus)
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13. |
Bring Me Home
03:44
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BRING ME HOME
words, music, arrangement, ©: Peggy Seeger
administered by Bucks Music
(guitar tuning: lowD-G-middleD-G-B-highD)
I heard my mother's birthing cry
The day that I was born
I saw the light in my father's eye
And knew that I was home
And knew that I was home.
My brothers' hands took hold of mine
They never did let go
When trees were tall - they helped me climb
And they always brought me home
Even now they bring me home.
Songs of love, tales of grace,
Of flesh and blood and bone
The first time ever I saw his face
His heart became my own,
Then his heart became my home.
Long, long-gone family time
Honey on the comb
So many treasured hands in mine
All those years of home
Now all those years are gone.
The reaper left an empty chair
An endless, silent song
I sat and cried on the topmost stair
And lost the way back home
I lost my way back home.
A woman's hand took hold of mine
In comradeship - until
We poured a glass of sweeter wine
And learned to drink our fill
O, we drank our fill,
Long nights while the watchful moon
Lit the shadows in our room
All that I have loved so long
And the loves that I have known
You bring me back where I belong
You always take me home
Bring me home, bring me home
You always bring me home.
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Peggy Seeger Oxford, UK
Peggy is one of the most influential folk singers on either side of the Atlantic. She is Pete Seeger’s half-sister and Ruth Crawford Seeger’s daughter; her first life partner was the English songwriter Ewan MacColl, who wrote First Time Ever I Saw Your Face for her. She has made more than 22 solo recordings to date. Please check ewanmaccoll.bandcamp.com for other albums featuring Peggy. ... more
Peggy Seeger recommends:
Joy of Living: A Tribute to Ewan MacColl
by Various Artists
The family are gradually making all Ewan MacColl's catalogue available digitally to download. Take a look ....
go to album
This is my son Calum MacColl's new album. I love it!
go to albumIf you like Peggy Seeger, you may also like:
supported by 4 fans who also own “Bring Me Home”
Finally its here and well worth the wait. A very polished and cohesive outing.
go to album
CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD BEFORE
by Eliza Carthy Trio
supported by 4 fans who also own “Bring Me Home”
Three of the most talented folk/roots/acoustic artists currently at the very top of their game. Spoiler alert; is Spanish Lady actually about Catherine of Aragon or have I been reading too much Hilary Mantel? *****
go to album
Sweet Old Religion
by Pharis & Jason Romero
Sweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection.
go to album
Wealth of Sorrow
by Cahalen Morrison
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless.
go to album
