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. |
Heading For Home
04:43
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My face to the sky, my back to the wind
Winter is entering my bones
The day has been long, night's drawing in
And I'm thinking of heading for home. (2)
The cradle and grave, the fruit and the seed,
The seasons mirror my own
The geese flying south are calling to me
And I'm thinking of heading for home. (2)
Always on the move with banner unfurled,
Yet gathering moss on the stone,
I sing for the children and cry for the world
And I'm thinking of heading for home (2)
As Time's my old friend and Death's my new kin
I'm not taking the journey alone,
I am old, I am young, I am all that I've been
And I'm thinking of heading for home. (2)
The memory of love will burn in my heart
Till embers and ashes are gone,
The light in your window is my northern star
And I'm thinking of heading for home. (2)
And it's time I was heading for home, (2)
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2. |
Country Blues
03:52
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Now come all you good kind people
While I've got money to spend;
Tomorrow may be Monday
And I'll neither have a dollar nor a friend.
Now when I had plenty of money, good people,
My friends were all standing around;
But as soon as my pocketbook is empty
Not a friend on earth could be found.
My papa told me a plenty, kind people,
My momma told me more.
Said 'Honey, if you don't quit your rambling ways
Find trouble at your door.'
O, if I had-a listened to my momma, good people,
I would not have been here today;
But drinking and a-ramblin' and gamblin'
At home I could not stay.
All around this old jailhouse you see me, good people,
Forty dollar won't pay my fine;
Those men have ruined my body
Corn liquor has ruined my mind.
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow, kind people,
Dig it deep in the cold, cold ground.
Come gather around all you kind friends
And see your poor Honey go down.
And when I'm dead and buried
My pale face turned to the sun.
Will you stand around and mourn, little lover,
And think on the harm you have done?
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3. |
Jackie Rover
03:00
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On business to market, butter and cheese to buy
He rode out a-singing all on the diddle-i-day
There he spied a pretty girl and a-being so inclined,
It's 'Do you want to ride along?" Well, she hopped on behind.
They rode on together so pleasant was the scene.
They chatted and they ambled till they come to yonder green.
She stepped down to tarry, 'twas then he did espy,
My dearest pretty darling: your ribbon's come untied.
O, sir, would you be willing, sir would you be kind
For to tie it up again? Dear girl, I wouldn't mind.
She held wide her tender arms and he fell right between
Such a tying of a ribbon, love, as never has been seen.
Now since you've been so forward, tell to me your name
And what is your business and wherefrom have you came?
My name is Jackie Rover, I hail from Back Bay
I spend my time in ups and downs all on the diddle-i-day.
They talked on a little further, being so inclined
Forgetting all their business nor never once brought to mind.
She looped her tender arms again and he rolled right between
Untied her little ribbon, love, then tied it up again.
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4. |
Dear Companion
03:50
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Once I had a dear companion
Indeed I thought his love my own
But then a dark-eyed girl persuaded
Now he cares for me no more.
O, go and leave me if you want to
That will never trouble me.
If it's in your heart to love another
Then in my grave I would rather be.
Many a night while you lie sleeping
Dreaming in your sweet repose.
There's me, poor girl, lies here a-weeping
Listening to the wind that blows.
When I see your baby laughing
It makes me think of your sweet face.
But when I hear your baby crying
It makes me think on my disgrace.
I am writing you a letter
Telling you that you are free.
From this moment and forever
I will care no more for thee.
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5. |
Oma Wise
04:23
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I'll sing you the story of little Oma Wise
How she was deluded by John Lewis's lies.
He promised to meet her at Adams's Spring
Said he'd bring her some money and some other fine thing.
He brought her no money but he flattered her case,
Said, We'll go and get married, there'll be no disgrace.
So hop up behind me and away we will ride,
We'll go and get married and you'll be my bride.
She got up behind him and away they did go
Riding down to that river where deep water flow.
John Lewis, John Lewis, tell me your mind,
Is your mind for to marry me or leave me behind?
Little Oma, Little Oma, I'll tell you my mind,
My mind is to kill you and leave you behind.
O pity, pity, spare me my life!
And I'll go a-beggin', I won't never be your wife.
No pity, no pity, I won't spare your life,
You won't go a-beggin', nor you won't be my wife.
He hugged her, he kissed her and turned her around
Throwed her in the river where he knowed she would drown.
The people all come from the city and town,
They're coming to that place where little Oma was drowned.
They sent for John Lewis to come to that place,
They set her up before him so he could see her face.
They took him to the jailhouse and locked him inside,
You know, he would not have been there if he had not killed his bride.
From window to window, slowly he go,
Looking down to that river where deep water flow.
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6. |
John Gilbert Is The Boat
04:02
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CHORUS: John Gilbert is the boat
Di-dee O, Di-dee O,
John Gilbert is the boat,
Di-dee O,
Runnin' in the Cincinnati trade.
You see that boat a -comin'
Comin' round the bend.
Loaded down with cotton
She's comin' in again. (chorus)
She run peanuts and cotton
And then she run so many,
Her men they run from her
Never get a penny. (chorus)
You see that boat a-comin',
Comin' round the bend,
Loaded to the bottom
With Louisiana men. (chorus)
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7. |
John Riley
03:36
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As I walked out one morning early
To take the sweet and pleasant air
Who should I spy but a fair young lady
Her cheeks being like a lily fair.
I stepped up to her, right boldly asking
Would she be a sailor's wife?
O no, kind sir, I'd rather tarry
And remain single for all my life.
Tell me, kind miss, and what makes you differ
From all the rest of womankind?
I see you're fair, you are young, you're handsome
And for to marry might be inclined.
The truth, kind sir, I will plainly tell you
I might have married three years ago
To one John Riley who left this country
He is the cause of all my woe.
Come along with me, don't you think on Riley,
Come along with me to some distant shore;
We will set sail for Pennsylvanie
Adieu, sweet England, forevermore.
I'll not go with you to Pennsylvanie
I'll not go with you that distant shore;
My heart's with Riley, I will ne'er forget him
Although I may never see him no more.
And when he seen she truly loved him
He give her kisses, one two and three,
Says, I am Riley, your own true lover
That's been the cause of your misery.
If you be he, and your name is Riley,
I'll go with you to that distant shore.
We will set sail to Pennsylvanie,
Adieu, kind friends, forevermore.
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8. |
Soldier's Farewell
02:43
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I'm going to join the army
I'm going to volunteer
I'm going to be a soldier
Before another year.
I'm going to Pensacola
To tarry awhile;
Far from you, my darling,
More than a hundred miles.
O hear the cannon roaring,
See the bullets fly
Hear the drum a-beating
To drown the soldier's cry.
O stay at home, dear Johnny,
Make me your wife
If you go to Pensacola
They'll surely take your life.
They'll put you in the center,
There you'll be slain
It'll burst my heart asunder
To never see you again.
Let me go with you, Johnny
I'll travel at your side
When the war is over
Then I will be your bride.
No stay at home, dear Nancy
Lead a single life
If I do come back again
I'll make you my wife.
They marched him through the country
Marched him into town
He marched to Pensacola
And there they shot him down.
I'm weary of the fighting
Weary of the war
Farewell, my Johnny
I'll never see you no more.
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9. |
Jenny's Gone Away
02:51
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Jenny's wearing strings and rags.
Jenny's gone away,
Jenny's wearing strings and rags,
Jenny's gone away,
CHORUS: Jenny's gone away,
Jenny's gone to Ohio,
Jenny's gone away.
Jenny left her baby when she went away,
Jenny's gone away,
Wanted to keep him, couldn't find a way,
Jenny's gone away, (chorus)
Jenny was young when her hair turned gray,
Jenny's gone away,
Jenny was a pretty girl in her day
Jenny's gone away, (chorus)
Jenny didn't want to go away,
Jenny's gone away,
Company took her house away.
Jenny's gone away,
Jenny's man died in the Farmington mine,
Jenny's gone away,
Company insurance didn't give her a dime,
Jenny's gone away, (chorus)
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10. |
Generous Lover
03:11
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O, the first time I saw my love, happy was I
I knew not what love was, nor how to deny;
So I made too much freedom of my love's company,
Saying, My generous lover, you're welcome to me.
My friends and relations, they angry are all
Because I went with you from my father's fine hall,
But my friends and relations, let them all angry be,
For my generous lover, you're welcome to me.
He said, Now my darling, it's I must away,
For I no longer in this country can stay;
So keep your mind easy. love. keep your heart free,
And let no man by thy sharer, my darling, but me.
This poor pretty creature she turned herself round
With her cheeks white as ivory and the tears pouring down,
Jimmy, dear Jimmy, you're the first one e'er wooed me,
And I'm sorry now I ever said 'You're welcome to me.'
O, happy's the girl that ne'er loved a man
She may easy tie up her narrow waistband;
She's free from all sorrow, all sad misery
That never said, my lover, you're welcome to me.
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11. |
Henry Lee
06:17
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Light down, light down, love Henry Lee
And stay with me this night.
You will have my candle and coal
And my fire's burning bright,
My fire's burning bright.
I won't light down, I can't light down
Nor stay all night with thee;
There's a lady ten times fairer than you
In Lord Barnet's hall for me, (2)
He's leaned him o'er her soft pillow
For to give her a kiss so sweet;
With her little pen-knife held keen and sharp
She's wounded him full deep, (2)
I will light down, I must light down
I will come in, said he.
There is no lady in Barnet's hall
That I love more better than thee, (2)
O live, my love, Lord Henry, she said
For an hour or two or three -
And all these cards about my waist
I'd freely give to thee, (2)
All them cards about your waist
They'd do no good to me;
Love, don't you see my own heart's blood
Come twinkling at my knee, (2)
She took him by his long yellow hair,
She dragged him by his feet,
She threw him down her cool draw-well
Full fifty fathoms deep, (2)
Lie there, lie there, you Henry Lee
I know you will not swim;
That lady ten times fairer than me
She'll never see you again, (2)
Light down, light down, you pretty little bird
Light down all on my knee.
No, a girl who'd murder her own true love
Would kill a little bird like me, (2)
I wish I had my bending bow
My arrow and my string -
I'd shoot my dart so nigh your heart
That you'd no longer sing, (2)
I wish you had your bending bow
Your arrow and your string -
I'd fly away to Barnet's hall
You'd always hear me sing, (2)
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12. |
Fatal Flower Garden
03:46
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It rained, it poured, it rained so hard,
Rained so hard all day.
That all the boys in our school
Came out to toss and play.
They tossed their ball again so high,
Then again so low;
They tossed into a flower garden
Where no one was allowed to go.
Up stepped a beautiful lady
All dressed in yellow and green;
Come in, come in, my pretty little boy
And fetch your ball again.
I won't come in, I shan't come in
Without my playmates all;
I'll go to my father and tell him about it,
And that'll cause tears to fall.
She first showed him an apple seed,
Then a guinea gold ring;
Then she showed him a diamond,
And that enticed him in.
She took him by his lily white hand
And she led him through the hall;
She put him into an uppermost room
Where no one could hear him call.
O, take these finger-rings off my fingers,
Smoke them with your breath;
If any of my friends should call for me,
Tell them that I'm at rest.
Tether the Bible at my head,
The Testament at my feet,
If my dear mother should call for me,
Tell her that I'm asleep.
Tether the Bible at my feet,
The Testament at my head;
If my dear father should call for me,
Tell him that I am dead.
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13. |
Girl Of Constant Sorrow
03:39
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I am a girl of constant sorrow
I 've seen trouble all my days
I left my home in old Kentucky
The place where I was borned and raised.
My mother how I hated to leave her
Mother dear, now she is dead
But I had to go and leave her
So my children could have bread.
Perhaps, dear friends, you're a-wondering
What the miners eat and wear
This question I will try to answer
For I think that it is fair.
For breakfast we have bulldog gravy
For dinner we have beans and bread
For the miners don't have any supper
Just a tick of straw that we call a bed.
For our clothes be always ragged
And our feet be always bare
And I'm sure if there's a heaven
That the miners will be there.
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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:
CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD BEFORE
by Eliza Carthy Trio
supported by 5 fans who also own “Heading For 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? *****
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supported by 4 fans who also own “Heading For Home”
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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.
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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.
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