Henry's Songbook

Back o' Beyond

Gordon Menzies

The tang o' the pines is fine as it hangs on the air
The summer sun smiles, for whiles he hasn't a care
The river runs free, and the bee sings her honeycomb song
By the side o' the track that leads tae the back o' beyond

The only real life is the life of the travelling man
Free as the smoke are the folk of the travelling van
At peace with the breeze, the trees and the birds on the pond
By the side o' the track that leads tae the back o' beyond

The children they yearn to learn the word of the school
The old ways are gone like raindrops that fall in the pool
But we'll teach them to care, set a snare and live off the land
As they wander the track that leads to the back o' beyond

But be on your guard, for hard are the winters of home
Twenty below and the snow lying hard as the stone
There's little to eat, and heat - just a memory gone
By the side o' the track that leads tae the back o' beyond

Maybe it's true that you have a mansion and land
And maybe the wife likes the life that is unco and grand
But I'm happy to be just me as I'm dodging along
Tae the end o' the track that leads tae the back o' beyond

Repeat 1

Susannes Folksong-Notizen

[1976:] Dedicated to the real travellers. We like and respect them for having the courage of their convictions, and for the times they have been kind enough to give us a lift. (Notes Gaberlunzie, 'Wind and Water, Time and Tide')