Tale Of The Trick

Walking away from the meadow of wells

Up to the bridge on the hill

Watching the salmon at play in the river so wide

Upstream to the rich spawning pools

Looking out over rich countryside,

the bubbling stream,

Spies all the others walking his way

Look there

Everyone looked so strange to me

They got their macs and they got their sticks

Looking around for the steam train

Blokes called Dave on the riverbank

Stand around in the clear rain, I cried

And wept as they searched for the berries of red

Annual pilgrims in Blair

Never believing train and station long gone

Along with the era of steam

Soon they were talking again

Old weaving mills?

More like some stones and a pile of wood

Oh

No

They got their macs and they got their sticks

Looking around for the steam train

Blokes called Dave on the riverbank

Stand around in the clear rain, I cried

And stormed down the hill, straight at the throng

I grabbed one Dave by the scruff of the neck, pointing out

There, beyond the hills in wild anticipation

Lie the mountain ranges, and the train puffing proud

Let me take you there, and show you the living beauty

I will show you sights you won’t forget

What a place to be

They got their macs and they got their sticks

Looking around for the steam train

Blokes called Dave on the riverbank

Stand around in the clear rain, I cried

And laughed

So we left town in search of the mystery train

And an era of steam that’s long gone

Up through the forest climbing into the hills

Gazed over lush valleys and I pointed out

They looked in the distance and maybe they saw

A quick puff of steam - only Scotch mist you fools

And I was gone and my voice rang out

You got your macs and you got your sticks

You don’t even know where the path is

Hope you get lost in the Pass of The Dead

That lies in the far distance

Goodbye Dave, ramble on

© Fergus Martin

2012