The travelling people sung by The Johnstons

The Travelling People

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(Ewan MacColl)
I'm a freeborn man of the travelling people
Got no fixed abode with nomads I am numbered
Country lanes and bye ways were always my ways
I never fancied being lumbered

Well we knew the woods and all the resting places
The small birds sang when winter time was over
Then we'd pack our load and be on the road
They were good old times for the rover

In the open ground where a man could linger
Stay a week or two for time was not your master
Then away you'd jog with your horse and dog
Nice and easy no need to go faster

And sometimes you'd meet up with other travellers
Hear the news or else swop family information
At the country fairs we'd be meeting there
All the people of the travelling nation

I've made willow creels and the heather besoms
And I've even done some begging and some hawkin'
And I've lain there spent rapped up in my tent
And I've listened to the old folks talking

All you freeborn men of the travelling people
Every tinker rolling stone and gypsy rover
Winds of change are blowing old ways are going
Your travelling days will soon be over

I'm a freeborn man of the travelling people
Got no fixed abode with nomads I am numbered
Country lanes and bye ways were always my ways
I never fancied being lumbered

Category:

Music

Tags:

• irish
• folk
• song

[westmorninstar]

love this old song and its great to hear it on hear after not hearing it for years and the travellers way o livin is changing. god bless them.

[lorgain2]

As long as they leave our worldly goods intact, we will love them. They are changing alright using JCBs to extract the money machines in the bank walls, far easier than using pin numbers.

[westmorninstar]

regardless of what walk of life people come from anybody committing a crime of any kind should be dealt with under the rule of law accordingly, there is an element of criminality in all groups of society, but to tar them as all being the same is absolutely nonsensical. the only type of people who do are the usual biggots, racists, and xenaphobes .

[lorgain2]

@westmorninstar Sorry friend but I was cleaned out along with many of my neighbours by travellers, I am hardly going to give them my blessing. Thankfully they were caught with the loot, and do have a look at the court cases coming up in our papers, the recent set-to in Killarney was a case in point.

Certainly a small minority of the population but well ahead in crime figures.

[machree01]

Lovely, the story of The travelling people, from their 1966 album, thanks for posting.

[lorgain2]

Thanks for the comment, Declan.

[thatsitithink]

@lizdfizzz I was thinking more like Pinky & Perky, but i really love it/them, and always will.

[boxingmad2010]

Mickigo. Get a life ya racist shite

[mickigoe]

The kind of travelling people applauded here died out in the 60s - their descendents are a crowd of dirty parasitic vicious spongers. Great song , though.

[Newsdoude]

They were a class folk act,doing a tour soon.

[CastletoKarma]

I agree with you stewart2002uk, a lovely warm song probably the best version of this Ewen McColl song.

Probably about now (see above post) a few songs are being sung in the Boyne Valley Inn Slane Co Meath where a Johnstons festival to take place next June is being launched where several of the group are to attend. 

[CastletoKarma]

A Johnstons Music Festival being launched tonight 20 April in Slane Co Meath.

To take place in last weekend in June next, the festival will commemorate this once great group who bequeathed some great music to us.

[stewart2002uk]

Forget the prejudice about travellers. This song is very special and warms ordinary people. As a piece of folk music it made a big impact on me in the early seventies and I really wish somebody would re-release it. The tune is captivating, the Johnstons version is the very best!

[MrMetalica11]

i come from tinkers ya can kiss my ass

[10azus]

Can youstillget their cd

[polmaccaba]

shut up! every man was born a rambler, its the situation that dictates their outlook and future. If i was born into a traveling family i would be traveling, if i was born into a fancy wealthy family, i would be rich. As it happens, i am a knacker, a nomad, so am i a criminal, or just mis-understood! LOL...