We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Moving Roots

by Chris Simmance

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      €15 EUR  or more

     

1.
Moving Roots 03:22
Moving Roots I’m looking for the path that goes through the fields I’m looking for the wood and the stone I’m looking for the things I can take in my hands In a way, I‘m going back home I’m looking for the thumb that measures the inch I’m looking for the foot in the mile I’m looking for the furlong that goes through the fields I’m looking for the spirit of a child I’m moving my roots back home I’m moving my roots back home I’m looking where I stand, what is all around I’m looking at the moon and the sun I’m looking at the earth I’ve gathered from the ground There’s flint and chalk in my hands I’m moving my roots back home I’m moving my roots back home My ancestors built this great ring of stones Maybe, one day, we’ll all understand The hunter and the farmer, the woman and the man We’re all going home I’m moving my roots back home I’m moving my roots back home I’m closing my eyes to see what’s inside And feel the blood in my veins The way has been long, the road has been high I’m standing here once again I’m finding the way that goes through the fields I’m finding the wood and the stone I’m finding those things I can take in my hands In a way, I’m going back home I’m moving my roots back home I’m moving my roots back home
2.
Vision 03:50
Vision I can’t get you out of my mind And you’ve been there one thousand times You’re clever, you’re sexy and I’m not blind I felt your eyes searching for mine We have our past, our history For some long time, our own story Show me the lovers in this land With deeper feelings than we have found You were in my heart in a split of a second You were my woman, you are my vision I don’t know why and I don’t care for questions There is no answer to this obsession I prepared you a dish, your favourite one You brought me wine, it was sweet on the tongue We sat together, forgot the time I sang you a song, it was like the wine We hadn’t forgotten all the fights we had We hadn’t forgotten all that was bad We treated each other with respect We harmonised, we didn’t expect You were in my heart in a split of a second You were my woman, you are my vision I don’t know why and I don’t care for questions There is no answer to this obsession You said, „it’s hard to go in the middle of night It’s hard to leave“, but I think we were right To hold each other a little while Then we let go, you got into your car Look, my woman, my pen’s on the page I’ve found it again, I’ve come out of my cage You have released me from my prison You’ve opened my eyes, you are my vision You were in my heart in a split of a second You were my woman, you are my vision I don’t know why and I don’t care for questions There is no answer to this obsession
3.
Honour is Yours Today Come, gather round and listen Honour is yours today Come, gather round and listen Yours is the field to play Saddle your noble horses Sharpen your shiny swords Steel your courage for the task in hand Pray to the God, our lord Come, gather round and listen Honour is yours today In yonder high position Lies the enemy Ten thousand strong and armed with guns Weak to the core, I say Wait till you face them eye to eye Before you plunge your sword Stay in close formation Take the place of the men that fall Come, gather round and listen Honour is yours today See, the sun is rising Now is the time at hand Take your comrade’s hand in yours In brotherhood we shall stand At noon we shall meet again A mottley group to behold And raise our tattered standard Proud in red and gold Saddle your noble horse Honour is yours today
4.
Tinker Tailor As I was a-walking one bright summer’s day „Hey-hey“ said the beggar, „you get out of my way Don’t give a damn for your children, your wife or your bed It’s my street today and I’d like to be fed“ „From Strasbourg to London I’ve lived with your type You get a licence to sing, you think you’re alright You’re gentle, you’re cultured, too selfish to work You take my trade away, the oldest trade on earth“ You’re a tinker, you’re a tailor A soldier, you’re a sailor A rich man, you’re a poor man You’re a beggarman, you’re a thief And I could turn my face and sing to the wall Many is the time it wouldn’t matter at all! „I don’t like your songs, I don’t like your voice I don’t like like your ways, I don’t like your face I haven’t got nothing but bring me some wine I haven’t got nothing but plenty of time“ He smelled of the road, he smelled of his rags He smelled of his beer, his piss and his fags The winter will be coming and that is for sure Maybe we‘ll meet again one day next year
5.
Angel 03:39
Angel This is no song of meadow and streams Of gardens and roses and corn in the fields This is a song hoping to heal It tells of a love that is real This is no song of strawberry teas Of champagne parties in high society This is no song of sweet memory It tells of a love that is real If I could give but a half what you give You’d be rich as a princess, as proud as a queen You are my angel sent from above You are my angel, my angel of love This is a love which I cannot let go It enriches the heart and deepens the soul This is a love of naked truth This is a love on the move This is a love of a thousand words Of countless kisses and tearful farewells This is a love laughing at time This love is yours and is mine This is a love of valley and plain Of tempest and doldrum, of storm and of rain Of summer and winter all rolled into one We never walk but we run This is no love looking after itself This is a love which is needing our help This is a love you and I feel This is a love that is real
6.
Sing Cuccu 02:36
Sing Cuccu Summer is a-cummin in Loud sing cuccu Groweth med and bloweth sed Springeth the wood anew Cuccu, cuccu well sings thu cuccu Ne swik thu naver nu Sing cuccu, nu sing cuccu Sing cuccu, sing cuccu nu Yave bleteth after lamb Loueth calve ku Bulluck sterteth, bucke verteth Murrie sing cuccu Cuccu, cuccu well sings thu cuccu Ne swik thu naver nu Sing cuccu, nu sing cuccu Sing cuccu, sing cuccu nu Summer is a-cummin in Loud sing cuccu Groweth med and bloweth sed Springeth the wood anew Cuccu, cuccu well sings thu cuccu Ne swik thu naver nu Sing cuccu, nu sing cuccu Sing cuccu, sing cuccu nu Yave bleteth after lamb Loueth calve ku Bulluck sterteth, bucke verteth Murrie sing, murrie sing, murrie sing (anon., circa 1215. One of the first poems in the english language. A joyous greeting for the coming summer)
7.
Morning Song 02:44
Morning Song Morning is magic when all else is quiet But birds in the sky full of song out of habit The perfume of blossom and dew in the grass Perfume of blossom and dew in the grass Woken by song and a light from the east In cutting the grey sky, firing the trees For a moment though only twixt sky and the fields A moment though only, the morning at peace Now is the time to rise out of bed Steel down the stairs and take the first bread Before others waken, just you with youself In a world full of millions, just you with yourself In ten minutes or more, some other will waken Join in the morning, the magic is broken The sky is now grey, there’s a rain in the air A wind in the trees and a rain in the air The day will proceed, as all other days With patterns established with passing of years Before very long you will yawn and will sigh Remember your warm bed, ask yourself - why? Some spirit awoke you this early May day Gently caressed you, took you away From idle slumber, from winter’s breath Gave you a new day with kindness and stealth Remember the sky, remember the birds Feel in your bones the rhythm that first Took a hold on your soul and showed you the world That was yours for a moment, that was your world
8.
The Sounds 01:54
The Sounds The sound of love, the sound of life The sound of people free from strife The sound of the breeze, the wind in the trees The sound of the oceans, the sound of the seas The sound of the people laughing and singing The sound of friendship, the sound of dance These are the sounds to which I would listen The sound of a thousand beating hearts Oh hear them laugh, hear them cry Let them live and let them die Women are bearing, there children are fareing To struggle and face every day anew, a new A new life is born, the old is gone And we follow soon From death to life, forever the pattern Mother make my bed soon Outside I hear the sound of the singers To bring me tidings of new things to come Their voice embraces all ages and races The song is wordless, it has no tune No rhyme, yet it has time It pounds, pulsates, it’s rhythm is mine It sounds a signal to which I will answer The time has come and a new life is born
9.
And if 03:35
And If There Come The Singers There’s a city by the river I can call it home, my home All where I am going I’m searching, I’m searching for my home A vagabond’s dream is to build a house of stone With roses on the porch growing And the children playing And if there come the singers And if there come the dancers And if there come the players But of their gifts also For they, too, are gatherers And that which they bring Though fashioned of dreams Is food for the soul I’m as free as a bird A slave, but a slave to the world Happiness is with me I promise to know sadness too Did you ever know the sun Kiss the street after the rain Did you ever know beauty Come again, again and again? And I said, “the street was dead It had sucked, it had sucked out my blood” Oh, was I so tired, so tired Trusting too much in my luck There were always roses on the porch Strawberries for tea Always children playing in the Vagabond’s dream
10.
Gentle Time 04:15
Gentle Time Time, gentle time Let me stay with you Time, gentle time Let me play with you Paint the hours of day Oh, paint, gentle time Draw your colours well Gentle time Oh, time, hanging still Drifting lazily Time, sleeping still Sleeping easily Sleepy, sleepy day Oh, glide on your way Show me where you go Sleepy day Oh, time, gentle time How you comfort me Time, gentle time You are life to me Let me share your day Your day, gentle time Take me on your way Gentle time, gentle time Show me where you go Gentle time Time, gentle time Let me stay with you Time, gentle time Let me play with you Paint the hours of day Oh, paint, gentle time Draw your colours well Gentle time Show me where you go Gentle time Take me on your way Gentle time
11.
Streetsinger 03:08
Streetsinger In sunny Spain and cold England There‘s a streetsinger Timbuktu and Samarkand A streetsinger His music started long ago It’s the oldest trade but one, you know Streetsinger sing me a song Of where you’ve been And what you have done Ways of the world, right and wrong Oh, Streetsinger sing me a song Guitar in hand, a drum on his back The streetsinger Money he earns, he throws in a sack Streetsinger From his looks you think he might be poor His energy keeps the wolf from the door In summer last year you saw this man The streetsinger Playing in the street in your holiday town Streetsinger Now winter’s come he’s wandered north The new-born year will turn him south Day-in, day-out he sings his songs The streetsinger Doesn’t take a break, he must go on Streetsinger He tours the towns from summer to spring Doesn’t always need the money, he needs to sing His cold, cold hands work in the snow The streetsinger Throw some money and away you go To the streetsinger You might wonder why he lives this way As you pass him on a cold, cold day You might not think and you might not care He could be living anywhere
12.
No Future 02:17
No Future Father can chuckle away in his chair „Told you so, my son, no future there“ He didn’t know the thrill of the street The taste of the biting, morning air The taste of the day with all to gain There’s nothing to lose It’s all to gain The people go on and by and by Buy and buy their food and clothes One or two stand aside and hear No blisters on their souls They clap and they smile and they nod their thanks With that they go, they’ve filled their tanks I once knew a man in London town An old man with a notice- „Only give me silver please“ I laughed, but I did notice! Now he’d been a-dancing since he was seven Now let’s send him happy to heaven A black man with a silver voice Was pulling crowds and plenty The kids were dancing and the parents paid They gave him pfennigs twenty „Hey man“, he said, „now what’s your game?“ He took his guitar, he caught the train Father can chuckle away in his chair „Told you so, my son, no future there“ He didn’t know the thrill of the street The taste of the biting, morning air The taste of the day with all to gain There’s nothing to lose It’s all to gain
13.
New Town Feeling Today I’m going to find a brand new town I’m going to earn my living I’m going hunting for the wildest dreams That make this life worth living My restless blood threw me out of bed A little voice said, „stay at home“, instead I got in my car and I drove away I’d a new-town feeling today! New town feeling New town feeling New town feeling today I’m just as crazy as I used to be I thank my stars it’s stayed this way My face is shaved and my boots are clean I feel as good as I’ve ever been I find my café and I call it home I buy my coffee and ten minutes time Out on the street it is crazy today I’ve a new town feeling today! I close my eyes, I dream of my songs The young man came, he tried to poke fun Children came with the money of their mothers And the little ones stood stuck to the ground Rain-clouds pass me by to the north The people are listening gently I feel as home as in any town The money’s not much but it’s plenty Time will pass like a ship in the sea People go home, it’s only me In an empty street with the moon in the sky In a lonely street with the moon in the sky My restless blood threw me out of bed A little voice said, „stay at home“, instead I got in my car and I drove away I’d a new town feeling today! I got in my car and I drove away I’ve a new town feeling today!
14.
Joining Hands I heard your voice crying in the fields I heard your voice laughing in the trees Over the seas of silence Over the seas of fear Over the seas of sadness Oh, I can hear Joining hands, whatever the wishes Joining hands, whatever the losses The island of my heart demands The time has come for the joining of hands My hand reached out and it searched for yours Our fingers closed and we were sure To cross the gulf of logic To cross the space of time Over the bridge of passion Beauty, truth combine Joining hands, whatever the wishes Joining hands, whatever the losses The islands of our hearts demand The time has come for the joining of hands Hand in hand, we defy the past Surrender to our demanding hearts Over the walls of waiting Over the walls we’ll climb Along the road of hoping New paths of trust we’ll find Joining hands, whatever the wishes Joining hands, whatever the losses The islands of our hearts demand The time has come for the joining of hands Over the seas of silence Over the seas of fear Over the seas of sadness Oh, we‘ll hear Joining hands, whatever the wishes Joining hands, whatever the losses The island of my heart demands The time has come for the joining of hands

about

Chris´ latest solo album is arranged under the motto „less is more“.A single guitar and a single voice occasionally embellished by choral work and delicate guitar riffs, the result is satisfyingly, pleasantly lyrical.
Chris´ own songs, recorded in his mobile home and mastered in Tübingen Neckarsound Studio.

credits

released April 1, 2010

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Julia & Chris Simmance Aix En Provence, France

Dear Music-Friends,
We are happy to tell you, that we are out there again, on the streets of South of France !
Hopefully rather sooner than later we will also add some new recordings on our site here.
Greetings and till then,
Julia and Chris
... more

contact / help

Contact Julia & Chris Simmance

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Moving Roots, you may also like: