Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj



User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Joan from Wigan Chords Req: Let Ramensky Go - Ballad of WWI Eng (53* d) Lyr Add: Ballad of Johnny Ramensky (add. material) 29 Dec 03


The Norman Buchan text posted by burl above (13 Dec 00, 9.04pm) is not quite complete. Here's the full text:

THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY RAMENSKY
Words by Norman Buchan; Tune Trad, arr. Buchan ("Jamie Foyers")
Text from 101 Scottish Songs (selected by Norman Buchan, published by Collins 1962, my copy a 1972 reprint)

Far distant, far distant, in Peterheid Jail,
Lies Johnny Ramensky, his escape bid did fail,
Iron bars and red granite keep him frae the sun,
An' Johnny Ramensky nae freedom has won.

He has been in a prison for the maist o' his days,
An "I must hae ma freedom" is a' that he says.
There are nae horizons in a twenty foot cell
And bitter the music of a hard prison bell.

He has slipped frae the darkness an' intae the light
Tae the green fields around him he has taken his flight
For one breath o' fresh air, just one glimpse o' the sun,
- But Johnny Ramensky nae freedom has won.

Oh the cauld frosty clay whaur he lays his head
Is sweeter tae him than a hard prison bed.
Oh foxes hae holes an' the birds hae their nests,
But whaur is poor Johnny Ramensky tae rest?

Like a dog he is huntit, like a dog he is ta'en,
But sweet was the smell o' the grass an' the rain,
Forgotten his prison, on his windows nae bars,
For Johnny Ramensky walked under the stars.

Far distant, far distant, in Peterheid Jail,
Lies Johnny Ramensky, his escape bid did fail,
Iron bars and red granite keep him frae the sun,
An' Johnny Ramensky nae freedom has won.


Post to this Thread -

Back to the Main Forum Page

By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.

By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.
   * Click on the linked number with * to view the thread split into pages (click "d" for chronologically descending).

By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.

By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.

Try it all, you will see.