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The Grey Goose Wing

from Tales of Love War & Death by Hanging by Ray Cooper

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about

Why write a song about Agincourt, a battle in Normandy that took place nearly 500 years ago?
After years of civil war and internal division, our King convinced the people that it would be a really good idea to have a little war in a land somewhere far away. There was little chance of achieving any long term strategic objective, rather than to demonstrate the superiority of the English army and make everybody at home feel as if they had just won the world cup.
Henry V was a master of propaganda and carefully managed his victory parade in London, giant wooden statues of David and Goliath were built on London Bridge, choirs with faces painted gold chanted praises, while Henry, humbly dressed, rode in on a small grey horse...The merchants loved it.

lyrics

The Grey Goose Wing

Neck stroke! Sir Thomas cried and threw his baton high
We drew our bows and loosed a cloud that stained the autumn sky
We had no choice to fight that day outnumbered three to one
We’d marched too far into their land and couldn't run
We put our trust in shafts of ash, fletched with the grey goose wing
We formed a line and turned to face, whatever fate could fling.

They bowed their heads they cursed and prayed as the cloud with goose wings flew
The maddened host attacked us then just as we wished them to.
Next day the field was black with crows that fed on dead men's eyes
No Christian could see such sights and not be moved to cry

And now we’re back on London bridge and all the choirs sing
We throw our bonnets in the air and say
‘It’s all for the whistling of the grey goose wing!’

A thousand maidens dressed in white threw leaves of laurel green
They praise us not for bringing peace but bringing victory
These people love a foreign war, that’s far away from home
Till they get sick of losing sons and hope that one day peace, will come.

When good King Henry came to town he rode a small grey mare
So humbly to compare himself to our sweet saviour
And through the crowds he bowed his head in all humility
But he took the credit anyway for our great victory
And when we got to London wall and heard the tumult roar
By God they made more noise than all the host on that field of Agincourt

And I’ll see you in the Bag-O-Nails and in our cups we’ll tell our tales
To every wide eyed barfly in the room
We’ll give 'em what they want to hear as long as they bring wine and beer
We'll tell 'em why the bells of London ring
It's all for the whistling of the grey goose wing!

They threw laurel leaves
Green laurel leaves
Not for peace but for the victory
Laurel leaves
Sweet laurel leaves
Sweet victory.


Words Ray Cooper
Music Ray Cooper/traditional, incorporating elements of the original anonymous Agincourt carol.

credits

from Tales of Love War & Death by Hanging, released October 1, 2010

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Ray Cooper UK

Ray Cooper is a singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist currently residing in the depths of Sweden where he moved in 2000. He left Oysterband in 2013 after a year in which they picked up 3 BBC2 Folk Awards and appeared live on the "Later..with Jools Holland' show. Since then he has carved out a successful solo career.

Photo by Kerstin Maier ... more

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