John Jeffreys - What Evil Coil of Fate

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What evil coil of Fate has fastened me
Who cannot move to sight, whose bread is sight
And in nothing has more bare delight
Than dawn or the violet or the winter tree
Stuck-in-the-mud -- Blinkered-up, roped for the Fair
What use to vessel breath that lengthens pain? --
O but the empty joys of wasted air
That blow on Crickley and whimper wanting me!

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More John Jeffreys lyrics

John Jeffreys - The Birds
When Jesus Christ was four years old The angels brought Him toys of gold Which no man ever had bought or sold And yet with these He would not play He made Him small fowl out

John Jeffreys - In Youth Is Pleasure
In an arbour green asleep whereas I lay The birds sang sweet in the middis of the day: I dreamed fast of mirth and play; In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure Methought

John Jeffreys - All Night Under the Moon
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Now the strong horse goes loose at last Free for his strength in the February's end Floods have left the meadows and gone past To the broader rivers, rocks and sand

John Jeffreys - An Old Desire
I searched thro' memory's lumber-room And there I found an old desire I took it gently from the gloom To cherish by my scanty fire And all the night a sweet-voiced

John Jeffreys - My Dear Lady
Am not I in blessed case Treasure and pleasure to possess? I would not wish no better place If I may still have wealthiness And to enjoy in perfect peace My lady, lady

John Jeffreys - Tom Collier of Croydon
Tom Collier of Croydon hath sold his coals And made his market to-day; And now he danceth with the Devil For like will to like alway Wherefore let us rejoice and sing

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John Jeffreys - Thirteen Pence a Day
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John Jeffreys

John Jeffreys (1927-2010) was born to Welsh parents in Thanet, Kent, and composed very much in a traditional English pastoral vein. Unable to receive much recognition in the 1970s, he destroyed much of his music and worked as a garden designer for council housing, writing a couple of books on the subject. However, in the following decade, he found a tape of his works and was able to reconstruct some of his music.