No More Sad Refrains

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

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)