Tuesday 31 May 2011

Cycle of the Seasons personified - "The January Man," sung by Karine Polwart with Lau



Oh the January man he walks abroad in woollen coat and boots of
leather
The February man still wipes the snow from off his hair and blows
his hand
The man of March he sees the Spring and wonders what the year
will bring
And hopes for better weather
Through April rain the man goes down to watch the birds come in
to share the summer
The man of May stands very still watching the children dance away
the day
In June the man inside the man is young and wants to lend a hand
And grins at each new comer
And in July the man in cotton shirts he sits and thinks on being
idle
The August man in thousands take the road and watch the sea and
find the sun
September man is standing near to saddle up and lead the year
And Autumn is his bridle
The man of new October takes the reins and early frost is on his
shoulder
The poor November man sees fire and wind and mist and rain and
winter air
December man looks through the snow to let eleven brothers know
They're all a little older
And the January man comes round again in woollen coat and boots
of leather
To take another turn and walk along the icy road he knows so well
The January man is here for starting each and every year
Along the way for ever

Song by Dave Gould, sung by Karine Polwart with Lau, a Scots folk band. Not her song, but a lovely one, I think.

This one is for people who feel that keeping in close contact with the cycle of the seasons, of birth, growth, decline, death, birth etc. - that close contact helps us feel at home here and now, on this planet, and stops us worrying so much about our own mortality. It helps us to find a fit.

Hope you don't feel I've been over-exposing Ms KP too much - no kick-backs for me! - but if you agree that she writes increasingly unusual and excellent songs and has a lovely voice, then I'm happy to celebrate her work. Also, we should buy the CDs of such people, and not just copy them or flip around YouTube, because it's hard enough for unusual talents to earn much money nowadays. This track is on an EP CD you can buy on her website.

2 comments:

  1. Not over-exposed at all GM. And I agree wholeheartedly about the purchasing of CD's and the like.
    This song gave me goose-bumps – not because, despite being the 31st May, I'm sat here with a woollen cardi pulled tightly round my shoulders, but because it gives a personality to the months and brings the seasons to life (and death, of course), which I find inspiring and an essential part of 'grounding' myself.
    Thanks GM!

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  2. I think I feel a bit September sometimes, but strangely still a lot of January. I think it's the boots.

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