Michael's Orchard

Описание: This song grew out of an inspiring story which I heard from the wonderful Dublin singer Sinead Stone about how her father defied the odds and local advice to make a dream come true on the windswept coast of County Clare. Thanks for the story Sinead and thanks to yourself (on backing vocals) and Gerard Farrelly (on piano) for adding your musical magic to this recording!

Michael's Orchard
Words and Music Colum Sands © Elm Grove Music
(From the album, "Look where I've ended up now."

Ah you’ll never grow an apple tree in this part of the country
For the weather here is wintry and the wintry weather’s wild
You’ll never grow an apple tree in this part of the country
For apples never grew here since Adam was a child.

For there’s salt upon the breath of the breezes from the ocean
And there’s frost upon the fingers of the fog at blossom time
You’ll never grow an apple tree in this part of the country
The old men chewed tobacco to the rhythm of their rhyme.

Michael heard their words and he looked across the ocean
Then he stepped around the little field where apples never grew
He chewed a blade of grass, he tasted salt he dreamt of orchards
While the old men watched him fearing he might teach them something new.

Killyballyowen watched him as he planted trees of shelter
Cross and Rehy watched him as the ash and rowan grew
Michael watched their colours change from springtime into autumn
And he knew that far above him time was watching too.

Michael felt the wind and years come flying up the Shannon
But his trees had taken root and their shelter warmed him too
He grafted hopes and dreams and he planted for tomorrow
And sheltered in his careful hands the little orchard grew.

He lived to see the apples and he watched his children taste them
While the old men chewed tobacco to the rhythm of their rhyme
For you who dare to dream the songbirds sing on branches
And your children’s play in the apple blossom time.