Red and Gold (2012) Fairport Convention

[Chorus]
Red and gold are royal colours
Peasant colours are green and brown
Green is the corn in the brown earth when it's growing
Red and gold when the harvest is cut down

[Verse 1]
Through Cropredy in Oxfordshire the Cherwell takes its course
And the willows weep into its waters clear
My name it is Will Tims and it's here that I was born
And raised in faith my King and God to fear

[Verse 2]
In 1644 the King in Oxford Town did dwell
Though we'd heard that Cromwell's army was nearby
It did not occur to me that little Cropredy
Could be witness to the meeting of both sides

[Verse 3]
On June the 29th that yеar I was about my work
Cutting hedges in a meadow by thе stream
My blade slipped, I cut my hand and my own dear blood did flow
Upon the brown earth and the corn still green

[Verse 4]
Now it did distress me so to watch my own blood flow
And quickly soak into the greedy ground
In red and gold my colours swam and sweat broke on my brow
And faint I knew that I must lay me down