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Roses & Castles

from Signs & Wonders by Bleu Charrette

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about

The fight to make the extensive canal system in the UK free for leisure use.

lyrics

A narrow boat nudges along the canal
Roses and castles drift slowly by.
Engine chugging down below.
Smoke from the funnel hangs on the air.

Once these boats were the blood in our veins
Feeding the cities of England.
They moved to the pull of the rope and the horse
Towpaths echoed to the striking of hooves.

But this speed was too slow for the men who made money
Even when steam replaced horse.
They abandoned the waters for the iron railway
And left the canals to the past.

For one hundred years the boats they lay still
Water-filled dustbins and tombs.
Fair roses faded and proud castles cracked,
Narrow boats beached up like whales.

Locks jammed open, pounds ran dry,
Paddles rusted and timber decayed.
Towpaths crumbled, bridges collapsed,
Arteries hardened in the heart of our land.

And then the railways met the same fate-
Beeching’s axe fell hard and cut deep.
Vital tracks left to ruin and rack
Monstrous motorways hacked through the fields.

Then along came the people with a vision in their hearts
Workers who needed to play.
They rolled up their sleeves and they picked up their spades
And laboured to open the way.

They fought for years against closed minds and laws
To let the waters run free.
And finally the day came when they won back our rights
And the canals were for you and for me.

A narrow boat nudges along the canal.
Smoke from the funnel hangs on the air
Hangs on the air
Hangs on the air...

credits

from Signs & Wonders, released December 31, 2016
Words and Music: James Armstrong
Vocals: James Armstrong and Sacha Touw
Harmonica: Sacha Touw
Guitar: James Armstrong

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Bleu Charrette Cahors, France

Bleu Charrette are a " Folk Roots" duo based in the South West of France. The duo consists of James Armstrong and Sacha Touw. Their combinations of beautiful harmonies punctuated on guitar by James and Sacha on cajon and harmonica, produce an evocative tapestry of sound ranging from feel good dance tunes to poignant observations on life and love. A must see act ! ... more

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