The Folksinger's Lament - David Diamond (Lyrics)

ARTIST: David Diamond
TITLE: The Folksinger's Lament
Lyrics


[To the tune of the Limerick Rake]

Come all you floor singers, here in this throng
I'll sing you a ditty that's turgid and long
With rhymes that don't rhyme and with meter that's a little bit wrong
And it's not what I'd sing when I'm sober

But I'm ready to sing, now I've had one or two
So you swine at the back needn't run for the loo
You can put up with me like I've put up with you
And I'd like you to join in the chorus

Although my guitar I relentlessly bring
It's never in tune when you ask me to sing
So I'll go a cappella with this little thing
And it's not what I'd sing when I'm sober

There are ninety-four verses I'll stop to explain
And I learned them this morning with infinite pain
I'll just mumble the ones I've forgotten again
And I'd like you to join in the chorus

The verses, of cuckoos and valleys so deep
My intent from the ears of the innocent keep
But you know what I mean if you've not gone to sleep
And it's not what I'd sing when I'm sober

And after the sex comes the violence and gore
With murders and stabbings and blood on the floor
But before all the squeamish ones run for the door
I'd like you to join in the chorus

I go round pretending I gathered this lay
From an ancient agrarian covered with hay
On the floor of the pub where the old fellow lay
'Cause it's not what I'd sing when I'm sober

But the truth is to tell that I stole the refrain
The characters' motives I cannot explain
And next week I'm planning to sing it again
And I'd like you to join in the chorus

I scribbled it down on the back of this sheet
Which I tore from the roll as I sat on the seat
At the back of the pub where the folk-singers meet
But it's not what I'd sing when I'm sober

I carry it round to the clubs where I go
And I ask at the door can I join in the show
And this was the first one that didn't say 'no'
And I'd like you to join in the chorus
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