Captain Swing by Graham Moore
The sun’s gone down, the shutters drawn
The curfew bell has tolled
The fox is lurking round the farm
The barn owl’s wings unfold
In the candlelight tonight you might
Hear to your alarm
The midnight band of captain Swing
As he rides from farm to farm.
All over Dorset
The flames are leaping high
The ricks are burning, who’s the cause?
“Captain Swing, not I.”
The sheep are safely in the fold
The shepherd deeply sleeps
The ploughman reels back from his drink
Through woods the poacher creeps
The squire retires on a bed of brass
With one thing on his mind
“If Captain Swing’s this way tonight
There’ll be no corn to grind.”
All over Dorset
The flames are leaping high
The ricks are burning, who’s the cause?
“Captain Swing, not I.”
The labouring man is on his knees
Nowhere can he get hired
Since new machines that do the work
The farmer has acquired
But how he sweats when he reads the threats
On paper morning brings
“Destroy your gear or else I swear
You’ll pay.” (signed) Captain Swing.
All over Dorset
The flames are leaping high
The ricks are burning, who’s the cause?
“Captain Swing, not I.”
© Graham Moore
The Threshing Machine by Graham Moore
The threshing machine
A blessing from God
‘twill make the squire’s fortune
This threshing machine.
The threshing machine
The work of the Devil
‘twill starve all our children
This threshing machine.
© Graham Moore
Enquire Within
Chorus
If you feel yourself yearning
For community learning
Enquire Within
Upon everything
Whatever you want to know.
Servants
From dealing with mange
To removal of stains
From history to mystery
To unblocking drains.
Chorus
If you feel yourself yearning
For community learning
Enquire Within
Upon everything
Whatever you want to know.
Castlemans
From Englishmen’s homes
To Castleman celebs
From banks and railways
To the World Wide Web.
Chorus
If you feel yourself yearning
For community learning
Enquire Within
Upon everything
Whatever you want to know.
School Children
From Harry Potter fan clubs
To Steps on line
From making web sites
To Kid Pix design.
Chorus
If you feel yourself yearning
For community learning
Enquire Within
Upon everything
Whatever you want to know.
© Wimborne Community Theatre