This is the song I wrote half-awake, half-asleep, last Friday morning... It was inspired by many little things throughout the week, but especially the excellent music at Redbourn Folk Club (including The Sea and the Land) the evening before. Photo (below) is my own.
The ship is breaking
The wind does groan
And no’one knows
My heart’s true home
I have no fear
Though death is near
Because my heart is empty
And my soul is drear
So there is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call
There is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call.
All hope is lost
And so is mine
The cold sea water
Has made me blind
And one by one
The sailors fall
Whatever the future holds
Let the sea take it all
Because there is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call
There is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call.
Which way the wind is blowing
Means nothing to me
For I’ve lost all that’s important
To the raging sea
And only lonely birds
Will know what’s left of me
Because there is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call
No there is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call.
Though his song is low
And his song is near
And it’ll probably be the last thing
I ever hear
It’s nothing to the sound
My heart holds dear
So there is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call
Yes there is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call.
Then back on the land
They laid me on the sand
And now I’ve been found
They’ll lay me in the ground
But I do not fear
Because I finally hear
The sound of your sweet tears
That fills my ears
So there is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call
There is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call.
So although it came at a cost
I’m no longer lost
Though I’m quieter than most
And you’ll never hold me close
I’ll always be yours
Buried in the church by the moors
And when you’ve died
I’ll be by your side
And together we’ll be
Just you and me
Not listening to the song of the curlew.
For there is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call
There is no reason
No reason at all
To listen to the curlew’s call.