The Lady (live - 1977)

Sandy Denny
from the recording Gold Dust - Live at the Royalty 1977 (released 1998)

The lady she had a silver tongue.
For to sing she said,
And maybe that's all.
Wait for the dawn and we will have that song.
When it ends it will seem
That we hear silence fall.

The lady she had a golden heart,
For to love, she said
And she did not lie.
Wait for the dawn and we'll watch for the sun.
As we turn it will seem
To arise in the sky.

We heard that song while watching the skies,
Oh the sound it rang
So clear through the cold.
Then silence fell and the sun did arise
On a beautiful morning of silver and gold.

[Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © 1972 Warlock Music)

Sandy Denny; piano

The Music Weaver

Sandy Denny
from the recording Sandy (1972)

I'm a long way from you,
I'm a long way from home.
And who cares for the feeling
Of being alone?
The notes and the words
They will always unfold
And I'm left with a manuscript
That will grow old
And the secrets all told anyway.

So the song it is yours,
And the song it is mine.
And a cold wind it blows
Through good fortunes of time.
The hobo he leaves
When the going is bad
And the music he weaves
Is so gentle and sad.
But freedom he has anyway.

[Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © 1972 Warlock Music)

Sandy Denny; piano

For Nobody To Hear

Sandy Denny
from the recording Sandy (1972)

Although the flames they are so dim,
I can see them from over here.
But this is no time to worry now,
No time to shed a tear.
The people are all smiling,
And the letters are all too,
The flowers they are all arranged
And the notes they are all blue.

Where are the words to say to you,
Where do they all begin.
I should not have a lot to lose
And everything to win.
And I want you to be smiling,
I want you not to cry.
And even if I hide away,
Then you'll get the notion why.

A symphony I learned at school,
In pigeonholes so clear,
But it made me for to write no songs,
For nobody to hear.
And I see you are all smiling
Even in the candle light.
Just close your eyes and fall asleep,
And I think you'll be alright.
Close your eyes and fall asleep,
And I think you'll be alright.

[Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © 1972 Warlock Music)

Sandy Denny, vocals, piano, acoustic guitars
Richard Thompson, guitars, mandolin
Pat Donaldson, bass
Timi Donald, drums
Brass arrangement by Allen Touissant

It Suits Me Well

Sandy Denny
from the recording Sandy (1972)

My name is Jan the gypsy
I travel the land.
There are no chains about me
I am me own man.
I can tell a fair old story which I'm sure ain't no surprise
Of the places I have been, oh,
And they ain't no lies.

I've never had a proper home,
Not one like yours is.
I've nearly always had a caravan
With horses.
And I know you won't believe me
Though it is the truth to tell
That the living it is hard, oh,
But it suits me well.

I am I traveller of the seas,
I am a sailor.
The ocean has been good to me,
She ain't no jailor.
I can tell a fair old story which I'm sure ain't no surprise
Of the places I have sailed, oh,
And they ain't no lies.

I've never had a garden,
Or a place with windows.
I stand upon the salty deck,
And feel the wind blow.
And I know you won't believe me
Though it is the truth to tell
That the living it is hard, oh,
But it suits me well.

My mother was a fire-eater,
'Fore she desert us.
So when I was only seven years old
I joined the circus.
And I can tell a fair old story which I'm sure ain't no surprise
Of the places we have played, oh,
And it ain't no lies.

I've never had no money,
And no hope to get none.
I can always get a penny,
When there is good reason.
And I know you won't believe me
Though it is the truth to tell
That the living it is hard, oh,
But it suits me well.

[Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © exists)

Sandy Denny, vocals, piano, acoustic guitars
John Kirkpatrick, Anglo concertina
Richard Thompson, guitars, mandolin
Pat Donaldson, bass
Timi Donald, drums

It´ll Take a Long Time

Sandy Denny
from the recording Sandy (1972)

Oh it's like a storm at sea
And everything is lost,
And the fretful sailors calling out their woes,
As to the waves they're tossed.

Oh they are all gentlemen,
And never will they know
If there is a reason each of them must go,
To join the cruel flow.

And it'll take a long, long time.
It'll take a long, long time.
It'll take a long, long time.
Oh it'll take such a long, long time.

There is no need for rules,
There's no-one to score the game
And there is nobody living in this town
As even knows its name.

Oh it'll take such a long, long time.
It'll take a long, long time.
It'll take a long, long time.
A long, long time.

[Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © 1972 Warlock Music)

Sandy Denny, vocals, piano, acoustic guitars
Richard Thompson, guitars, mandolin
Pat Donaldson, bass
Timi Donald, drums
Pete Kleinow, pedal steel guitar
John Bundrick, organ

Listen, Listen

Sandy Denny
from the recording Sandy (1972)

The young man rose his pretty face,
All for to feel the salty spray.
When storms are mustering, they say
I'll come and take you all away.

I am a traveller by trade,
I only have what I have made.
A fortune teller too they say,
And I can take you all away.

Listen Listen to him do.
He is the one who is for you.
Listen, they say
He'll come and take us all away.

And over there the young man stayed,
Upon on the rocks so rough and grey.
Watching the boy, watching the day
Thinking of how he came to be.

A young man he, he is so real,
And never more to go astray.
He is of value now they say,
And he can take himself away.

Listen Listen to him do.
He is the one who is for you.
Listen, they say
He'll come and take us all away.

[Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © 1972 Warlock Music)

Sandy Denny, vocals, piano, acoustic guitars
Richard Thompson, guitars, mandolin
Pat Donaldson, bass
Timi Donald, drums
Harry Robinson - string arrangement

White Dress - with Fairport Convention

Sandy Denny - with Fairport Convention

from the recording Rising For The Moon (1975)

Feel how the wind blows, December despair,
Bring me a ribbon to tie up my hair,
I'll be your bride, go where you go,
All of my life, you'll be my beau.
Kiss me and I might
Put on a white dress,
If you'll take me dancing tonight.

The night's in your face, sky's in your eyes,
The day's in my arms when you're by my side,
Whenever you're weary I'll sing you a song,
Whenever you're lonely I'll show you you're wrong.
Kiss me and I might
Put on a white dress,
If you'll take me dancing tonight.

Come from the window, let's climb the stairs,
All of my sorrows are none of your cares,
While life is in us, let's love all we can.
I'll be your woman, you'll be my man.
Kiss me and I might
Put on a white dress,
If you'll take me dancing tonight.

[Dave Swarbrick]

(Copyright © exists)

Sandy Denny, vocals, acoustic and electric pianos, acoustic guitar
Dave Swarbrick, vocals, violin, viola, mandolin, autoharp, dulcimer
Dave Pegg, bass, electric guitar, backing vocals
Jerry Donahue, electric, acoustic and slide guitars
Trevor Lucas, vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Dave Mattacks, drums

One More Chance (live - 1977)

Sandy Denny
from the recording Gold Dust - Live at the Royalty 1977 (released 1998)

Calling all olive branches and laid-off doves
There is work to do before we say good-bye.
But who can see them turning to the face of love?
Though I hear them pleading with me, Don't let us die,
As I sit, I can see their troubled souls wander by,
And I feel them leaning on my shoulder to cry,
Oh, oh one more chance.

The naked tree of winter seems to stand so proud,
Lording the poor mortal as he goes.
And the tears which well beneath his sombre shroud,
Will they fall with the shame of somebody who knows
He can never be like the thought of a rose
Whose beauty remains even though the bloom goes?
Oh, oh one more chance.

Oh is it too late to change the way we're bound to go?
Is it too late? Then surely one of us must know.

The naked tree of winter seems to stand so proud,
Lording the poor mortal as he goes.
And the tears which well beneath his sombre shroud,
Will they fall with the shame of somebody who knows
He can never be like the thought of a rose
Whose beauty remains even though the bloom goes?
Oh, oh one more chance.

[Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © 1975 Jardiniere Music)

Sandy Denny: vocals, piano and acoustic guitar
Dave Mattacks: drums
Pat Donaldson: bass and backing vocals
Trevor Lucas: acoustic guitar and backing vocals
Phil Palmer and Rob Hendry: lead guitars
Pete Wilshire: pedal steel

Due to technical problems (tape deterioration) on the guitar and backing vocals tracks, most of the guitars (except for track 13) were rerecorded by Jerry Donahue and backing vocals were sung by Simon Nicol and Chris Leslie.

Bushes and Briars

Sandy Denny
The BBC Sessions. 1971-1973

I can't believe that it's so cold
And there ain't been no snow.
The sound of music it comes to me
>From every place I go.
Sunday morning, there's no one in church,
But the clergy's chosen man
And he is fine I won't worry about him.
Got the book in his hand.

Oh, there's a bitter east wind, and the fields are swaying,
The crows are round their nests.
I wonder what he's in there a saying
To all those souls at rest.
I see the path which lead to the door,
And the clergy's chosen man.
Bushes and bria
You and I,
Where do we stand?

I wonder if he knows I'm here,
Watching the briars grow.
And all these people beneath my shoes,
I wonder if they know.
There was a time when every last one,
Knew a clergy's chosen man.
Where are they now?
Thistles and thorns,
Among the sand.

I can't believe that it's so cold
And there ain't been no snow.
The sound of music it comes to me
>From every place I go.
Sunday morning, there's no one in church,
But the clergy's chosen man
Bushes and briars,
Thistles and thorns
Upon the land

[Sandy Denny]

U.F.O. Music, Inc. (C) 1972)

Sandy Denny, vocals, acoustic guitar

The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood - Sandy Denny

Sandy Denny
from the recording Sandy (1972)

As gentle tides go rolling by,
Along the salt sea strand
The colours blend and roll as one
Together in the sand.
And often do the winds entwine
Do send their distant call,
The quiet joys of brotherhood,
And love is lord of all.

The oak and weed together rise,
Along the common ground.
The mare and stallion light and dark
Have thunder in their sound.
The rainbow sign, the blended flower
Still have my heart in thrall.
The quiet joys of brotherhood,
And love is lord of all.

But man has come to plough the tide,
The oak lies on the ground.
I hear their tires in the fields,
They drive the stallion down.
The roses bleed both light and dark,
The winds do seldom call.
The running sands recall the time
When love was lord of all

[Richard Farina. arr. Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © exists)

Sandy Denny, vocals
Dave Swarbrick, solo violin
Linda Peters, backing vocals

Tomorrow Is A Long Time

Sandy Denny
from the recording Sandy (1972)

If today was not an endless highway,
If tonight was not a crooked trail,
If tomorrow wasn't such a long time,
Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting,
And if I could hear his heart softly pounding,
Only if he was lying by me.
Then I'd lie in my bed once again.

I can't see my reflection in the waters,
I can't speak the sounds that show no pain,
I can't hear the echo of my footsteps,
Or can't remember the sound of my own name.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting,
And if I could hear his heart softly pounding,
Only if he was lying by me.
Then I'd lie in my bed once again.

There's beauty in the silver, singing river,
There's beauty in the sunrise in the sky,
But none of these and nothing else can touch the beauty
That I remember in my true love's eyes.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting,
And if I could hear his heart softly pounding,
Only if he was lying by me.
Then I'd lie in my bed once again.

[Bob Dylan]

(Copyright © 1967 Dwarf Music)

Sandy Denny, vocals, acoustic guitar
Richard Thompson, guitar
Pat Donaldson, bass
Timi Donald, drums
Pete Kleinow, pedal steel guitar
John Bundrick, organ, piano
Linda Peters, backing vocals

Crazy Lady Blues

Sandy Denny
Live at the BBC 1971
and from the recording The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (1971)

Missed the morning too, didn't rise before noon.
She's a lazy lady today.
Always yawning, you with your eyes on the moon.
You're a crazy lady I'd say, da da da.

Now should I say more, for I know so well
And you're no hazy maiden in grey.
How can I be sure, it's not easy to tell.
But you're a crazy lady, I'd say.
Crazy lady.

[Sandy Denny]


(Copyright © 1971 Warlock Music)

Sandy Denny: guitar

The North Star Grassman and The Ravens

Sandy Denny
Live at the BBC 1971
and from the recording The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (1971)

They stood upon the deck
As the ship went out to sea.
The wind it took the sails
And left the land a memory.
All upon the shore for
To wonder why the sailor goes.
All to close their eyes
And wonder what the sailor knows.

That is you to them,
That is how they think you are.
Never on the land,
But sailing by the North Star.

To the tower and to the ravens
And the tale that hopes they'll never leave.
What if they should go?
We always dread to think of them.
I wonder if they flew one day
And no-one ever knew they'd gone
To circle over ships at sea,
Claiming yet another son.

That is you to me,
That is where I think you are.
Never on the land,
But gone to find the North Star.

[Sandy Denny]


(Copyright © 1971 Warlock Music)

Sandy Denny: piano

Late November

Sandy Denny
Live at the BBC 1971
and from the recording The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (1971)

The wine it was drunk, the ship it was sunk,
The shot it was dead, all the sorrows were drowned.
The birds they were clouds, the brides and the shrouds
And as we drew south the mist it came down.

The wooded ravine to the wandering stream,
The serpent he moved, but no-one would say.
The depths of the waters, the bridge which distraught us
And brought to me thoughts of the ill-fated day.

The temples were filled with the strangest of creatures
One played it by ear on the banks of the sea.
That one was found but the others they went under.
Oh the tears which are shed, they won't come from me.

The methods of madness, the pathos and the sadness,
God help you all, the insane and wise.
The black and the white, the darkness of the night,
I see only smoke from the chimneys arise.

The pilot he flew all across the sky and woke me.
He flew solo on the mercury sea.
The dream it came back, all about the tall brown people,
The sacred young herd on the phosphorus sand.

[Sandy Denny]


(Copyright © 1970 Warlock Music)

Sandy Denny: piano

Here In Silence

Sandy Denny
to be found on the following recordings.

Pass of Arms (1972)
No More Sad Refrains (2000)
Sandy (2005 CD re-issue) - bonus track

Summer skies are gone for ever
Nothing left but to remember
Morning leaves a bed of echoes
Tears of blood in weaping meadows
Can you see me, can you hear me
Can you leave me here in silence?

Drums and flags and trumpets playing
Armies in the night are praying
Hymns of hate to have their souls blessed
For the morning's blood shed harvest
Can you reach me, can you hold me
Can you leave me here in silence?

Take my children, golden children
Grow them, train them, cut them, kill them
For the justice of your Jesus
For the service of your leaders
Can you feel me, can you touch me
Can you leave me here in silence?

Innocence is gone forever
Nothing left but to remember
Autumn cracks the leaves of pity
Winter chokes the cries of mercy
Can you free me, can you love me
Can you leave me here in silence?


[Peter Elford, Don Fraser]


(Copyright © exists)