LAMAS FAYRE
Chris Difford


We caught the ferry from Stranraer to Larne
over the great waves out under the stars
to sleep in a cabin and look for the shore
at six in the morning when I was a boy
mother would lead me and take me in her hand
combing my parting while back on dry land
we caught the showers that fell on the beech,
sunshine we dreamt of was so out of reach
on Irish mountains the coaches would climb
weąd write out postcards as the drivers unwind
and mother was drinking with her friends at the bar
and Iąd run them around but I wouldnąt go far

We caught the Ocean that flew on the wind
we sat together and we let the day in
she prayed in her silence for all who she knew
this beautiful landscape was all for my view
and mother would take me to see Lamas Fair
gypsies would see me and theyąd play with my hair,
I heard my fortune told so simply there

The rain was falling on the heather and gorse
I had my ice cream with the chocolate sauce
father was frowning a bag on his back
the happier he got the more that he drank
fiddles were playing in the opposite bar
I had my crisps and lemonade in the car
down to the causeway where giants once roamed,
id chase the crabs just before they got stoned
my father my mother my brothers and me
so young and simple in my memory