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If You See a Rook on its Own, it's a Crow

by Elle Osborne

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1.
Birds of the British Isles by Elle Osborne I have walked the county with a pony by my side I have met the weather, I have read the sky I have taken in the air, I have taken in the miles But I don’t know all the birds of the British isles Well I know many things, some that others don’t know I know if you see a rook on its own, it’s a crow And I know the heft of heron and the light of blackbird calls But I don’t know all the birds of the British Isles And I can say many things, some that others wouldn’t care to I know what to say to people when they pick on you And I’ve almost learnt to greet the haters with loving smiles But I haven’t learnt my birds of the British isles
2.
Ing's Lane 03:32
Ing’s Lane by Elle Osborne Fallen as a lost child, fallen safe and found, fallen Held as a lost child held and found fallen Climbed to earth fell to the sky safe and found fallen fallen safe and found I know where the stream runs free, I know where the fillies stray I know where the rope swing sways I know where lost children play Safe and found safe and found And the moon shone bright
3.
No Hoof, No Horse by Elle Osborne A lone pony tethered in the horizontal rain At the mercy of a master Measures all our pain But it’s not the wet that gets them It’s the wind that does for horses The ear high, the wider eye, And greater when the force is But along comes Molly now, squinting in the low sun Walk along with me now, walk along Shoulder by shoulder, in it for the long run Walk along with me now, walk along Along they come trotting, wickering Cheeky mares, snickering Walk along with me now, walk along An extra guinea for every roll at the horse fair dickering * Walk along with me now, walk along * Amongst the Gypsy horse dealers of North Lincolnshire (maybe other places too), there was a lore which said a horse or pony would gain an extra guinea in value for each time it could roll from side to side
4.
Comedy & Tragedy (Dr Elliot’s Remedy) by Elle Osborne Tragedy sat down with Comedy Comedy rolled up his sleeves Tragedy sat back and folded her arms To watch how the other half lives Comedy called on the bartender To set up the drinks for all round And in they all came for the party The unsteady, the unsung, and unsound And oh what good fun could be found, me boys As the drinking all flowed into song And Tragedy could do nought but look on And Comedy could do no wrong Comedy, Comedy tell us another one Comedy give us one more Comedy, Comedy everyone’s waiting to see you Fall flat on the floor Comedy never knows when to call it a night Tragedy’s already out the door Comedy, Comedy everyone loves you But they secretly love Tragedy more Comedy sat down with Tragedy Tragedy rolled up his sleeves Comedy sat back and folded her arms, To watch how the other half grieves
5.
Bread & Whisky by Elle Osborne The old man called for bread and whisky, Scoffed at the offer of milk for his tea And up the hill, she hauled hay for the horses And firewater for his Excellency All the fields fell white and quiet The fir trees stood firm and slow Made for squeals and whispers All the boughs bow low with snow And down the hill, they’re carving paths thru the pack ice The kids are writing curses to the neighbours in the snow And the neighbours are cussing the parents Salt in the wounds and grit on the roads … And down by the river at the navigation cottage They’re under the weather but over the worst And they’re planting primroses and in the back kitchen They’ve taken out a stove and left a carousel horse Oh me, of course, they’ve swapped a firebox for a carousel horse And some pirate lad tried to get the better of me Rings in his ears and stars in his eyes Got no further than a long good night, Then left a little something to remember him by Oh me, oh my, left me just a little something to remember him by
6.
Stolen Goods 04:27
Stolen Goods I took something that wasn’t mine Took it for a given It took me down the long low roads When I thought I was heading for heaven But yon gold is nought but pinchbeck And yon lace none but St Audrey’s And I’ll wash my innocent hands And seek out some less tawdry So no more, no more, no more This is no meeting, no more There is no half-way, no more No never more, no more, no more Here’s you Here’s your accident Here’s me Here’s my ambulance No never, no more Here’s you Here’s your wether skin Here’s me Here’s my lanolin No never, no more Well no more, no more, no more This is no meeting, no more There is no half-way, no more No never more, no more, no more And the opposite of love is not hate The opposite of love is longing to be loved Which sometimes looks a lot like a hate Especially from a distance, in a poor light They’ll take your gold, take your gold, take your gold, And spend it on sweeties
7.
The Taming of the Shrewd by Elle Osborne I wore the clothes of hard work and weariness You saw the weight of earth and early rising I saw the making of levity and the taking of liberty And the air of one used to entitlement But I’ve got a heart and a mouth I’ve got three chords and the truth I’m going to put them to good use For the taming of the shrewd I’ve never been too good at forgiveness And I’m plain out of patience and kindness And all I have left to me are the facts and my dignity And a bad case of pure bloody-mindedness But I’ve got a heart and a mouth I’ve got three chords and the truth I’m going to put them to good use For the taming of the shrewd I carry fire in one hand Water in the other And in between the flames and douse, there’s the heat and steam of the engine house And it’s neither of them I can smother But I’ve got a heart and a mouth I’ve got three chords and the truth I’m going to put them to good use For the taming of the shrewd
8.
The Selkie 04:42
The Selkie by Elle Osborne When they cast you to the wind and the sparkling sea, a seal in the distance calling out to thee And you’re home already And they sang songs for you Invoked a god for you called on all that you had loved or left or longed for And we told our tales of you Took the best of you Made a new life for you That oh I wish were true And wherever you are now, I know they’ll love you And wherever you are now, I hope you’re free And wherever you are now, I hope they’ve got good whisky And wherever you are now, I hope you rest in peace And I hold you still and will until The seas are rung out and hung out to dry
9.
Tundra 05:04
Once you walked on pack-ice, arctic hunter Seeking your prey across the tundra Now I see you swim in melt water Your hardest catch, the selkie’s daughter If we want to keep things sacred And not be wasted Nor turn to hatred And if we want to see these things thrive More than just survive Then this is no time for silence I went gathering the fruits of the trees And the jewels of the sky and of the seas I laid them out for all to see And offered them all up to thee If we want to keep these things sacred And not be wasted Nor turn to hatred And if we want to see these things thrive More than just survive Then this is no time for silence
10.
The Offing 03:38
The Offing by Elle Osborne The lord is not my shepherd, and I am not a sheep And I’ve got all these secrets and promises to keep And I don’t know where to put them, when I try to go to sleep And Jesus I’m in pieces sometimes I’m in trouble with the weather I had sunshine on my shoes; Now I’ve got 5 years of rainy days, When I only saved for 2 I am honeycombed monochrome bones Written in my chromosomes Light chains, heavyweight Waiting, weighted, wait And out there in the offing There’s a boat that sails the sea It’s come a little early But I’m ready So sing me to the place Where singing comes from And I’ll tell you what I know about the humdrum: Know that everyone you meet, Everyone you meet has a life as complex as your own Be as kind as you can, Kinder than you can, Kinder, kinder than you can If we're all as kind as we can be, As kind as we can be, Someone will always notice
11.

credits

released June 5, 2020

Words and music by Elle Osborne
Arranged and produced by Elle Osborne
Recorded and mixed by Joe Watson

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