I was born amongst the Gypsies
not far from Canford Heath
I grew up on the heather
where the paths did wind and tree’s did weep
Where the lizard’s danced in sunshine
and the sand tickled my feet
where the birch grew on the common’s
where John Augustus of times would sleep
Oh the river it did bend there
and the furze did smell so sweet
not far from the Canford arm’s
where the willows leaves did weep
Oh the Canford Magna highway
with its school for toffs and king’s
the manor house stood proudly
where the Stour river we did swim
Oh the vardo wheel’s did turn there
where the bender’s bedded down
high up on the heather’s
not far from old Newtown
Oh the brickyard’s and the viaduct’s
the steam laundry down the lane
the Turbary common wasteland’s
where knobby Wotton made the daisy chain’s
The folk’s they danced there daily
and the chimney’s were stacked high
high upon the skyline
where you could watch Poole train’s steam bye
Where The River Bends [based on a poem by Ray Wills] – arranged by Mike [Taffman] Guy
Raymond Arnold Wills
https://www.thegypsypoet.co.uk/