Roy Harper - When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease

"HQ", (1975)

Lyrics:
When the day is done
And the ball has spun
In the umpire's pocket away
And all remains in the groundsman's pains
For the rest of time
And a day
There'll be one mad dog and his master
Pushing for four with the spin
On a dusty pitch
With two pounds six of willow wood
In the sun

When an old cricketer leaves the crease
You never know whether he's gone
If sometimes you're catching a fleeting glimpse
Of a twelfth man at silly mid-on
And it could be Geoff, and it could be John
With a new ball sting in his tail
And it could be me, and it could be thee
And it could be the sting in the ale
The sting in the ale

When an old cricketer leaves the crease
Well, you never know whether he's gone
If sometimes you're catching a fleeting glimpse
Of a twelfth man on silly mid-on
And it could be Geoff, and it could be John
With a new ball sting in his tail
And it could be me, and it could be thee
And it could be the sting in the ale
The sting in the ale

When the moment comes
And the gathering stands
And the clock turns back to reflect
On the years of grace
As those footsteps trace
For the last time out of the act
Well, this way of life's recollection
The hallowed strip in the haze
The fabled men and the noonday sun
Are much more than yarns of their day

When an old cricketer leaves the crease
Well, you never know whether he's gone
If sometimes you're catching a fleeting glimpse
Of a twelfth man on silly mid-on
And it could be Geoff, and it could be John
With a new ball sting in his tail
And it could be me, and it could be thee
And it could be the sting in the ale
The sting in the ale

When an old cricketer leaves the crease
Well, you never know whether he's gone
If sometimes you're catching a fleeting glimpse
Of a twelfth man on silly mid-on
And it could be Geoff, and it could be John
With a new ball sting in his tail
And it could be me, and it could be thee

Category:

Music

Tags:

• roy
• harper
• when
• an
• old
• cricketer
• leaves
• the
• crease
• hq
• autumn
• almanac

[TheMimifur]

Mid to late 70s and I was in Oxford Town Hall with my girlfriend and loads of chums. Thanks. Specially cos one of those pals just died and listening to this is sad but good.

[HeadfulOfHollow]

@TheMimifur Sorry for your loss, my friend. 

[jackemlyn062]

This one's bang on too K. Love your ear, both of em actually !!!

[HeadfulOfHollow]

@jackemlyn062 Hahahahaha thanks K! :)))

[Circumpunk]

How did you find this mate? It is excellent. Thanks for lifting this old fat redneck's spirit.

I find it very" beatles-esque". There's no friend like an old one. We are coming upon my 1 year YT anniversary and you mean so much to me brother. As ever your tatse is impeccable mate.

[HeadfulOfHollow]

@Circumpunk There was this Uncut issue where Ray Davies was interviewed, and they included a CD titled "An Autumn Almanac: 16 tracks in the spirit of Ray Davies" with the issue. It's a great compilation: there are also songs by Robyn Hitchcock, Sandy Denny, Billy Childish and others. I might upload some more stuff :)))

Thanks, bro. :))

[Drdebaser]

remember hearing this played by john Peel, he'd just played Teenage kicks or some punk stuff i was really into. I just couldn't believe it. I loved it then, I love it now.

[oldhippypeace]

Always moves me to tears..makes me think of my dad especially the time he was watching our village team and rain stopped play(he was Eighty years old) and the pitch was deserted apart from my father sat on a bench cap on head,umbrella up.

Someone took a photograph and I have never managed to get hold of it

[reevedavey]

@MACHAWK123.i couldnt agree more.i,m moved to misty eyed wonder at this song.quite quite stunningly beautiful.

[MACHAWK123]

One of the most evocative songs i've ever heard, the brass arrangement is beyond compare. Simply stunning!!

[lancasterseasider]

This always has been a top track. Roy Harper did a Friday night set at Cropredy 80's/90's and didn't play this - but then came on as a guest on the Saturday and did it - amazing. Try also Richard Thompson's Bee's Wing & 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

[Circumpunk]

@HeadfulOfHollow Oh please do upload the Hitchcock!