David Heavenor: Music

A song about childhood in North Berwick on the East coast of Scotland. One Saturday morning I went down to the shore with some friends and a boat had been thrown up on the beach by a storm. Over the months we played on it until it gradually disappered from view in the sand. I also used to lie awake at night listening to the sea pound the shore. Dreams are there about lightning striking the harbour; also speechless at wonder and love; loss of childhood in the adult world.

MARMION ROAD

A house by the sea, a child tossed on his sleep
The shale shifts under the bay, shapes rise up from the deep
The Hallow's Eve Ship paints white sails on the indigo blue
Midnight Captain's grim face shows a storm will break through

And her long white gown tumbles down this Autumn evening
And the lightning cracks, interrupts our breathing
And all the words I lack
Fill up all the space between the stars

The ketch beached in the night, her dog howled for the crew
The Saturday boys cried out 'She's in one whole piece too..'
'Let's sail away' shouted Bill, 'Blabbermouth' we all bawled'
By Spring tide she was lost to Flot and Jetsam's crab claws



And her long white gown tumbles down this Autumn evening
And the lightning cracks, interrupts our breathing
And all the words I lack
Fill up all the space between the stars


Sparkledark, sparkledark, who tailored your gown?
Like my Taffeta girl, your sequins light up this town
See Rosanne float like the moon, lonely as sin
What a lovely cradle of light for my night to rest in

And her long white gown tumbles down this Autumn evening
And the lightning cracks, interrupts our breathing
And all the words I lack
Fill up all the space between the stars



Have you lilies to crush, dead arms to break through
Where the old house gathers dust and memories fasten like glue?
Now hush child, don't you cry, don't fret any more
Your Moon-Ship waits for you just off the lee shore

And her long white gown tumbles down this Autumn evening
And the lightning cracks, interrupts our breathing
And all the words I lack
Fill up all the space between the stars


Rosanna you're warm, Rosanna I’m cold
Go on chum me back home down Marmion Road