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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Forty-three songs make this 2 1/2 hour collection excellent value. Includes two 16-page lyrics booklets.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The People Have Songs - Volume 1 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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about

In 1998 I travelled with a man from California through the snow forests of Washington State to El Paso, Texas. People called him ‘Boxcar’ but his real name, that few knew, was Tom. For three months we journeyed on the freight trains and together learnt the pain it is to trust and to know each other. I don’t know where Tom is now but this heart-song keeps him with me. - Karen Cregan.

lyrics

Tom rolled his cigarette, cursing the breeze
For blowing it half away
In green eyes made iron grey I see reflections of a boy
“Oh Tom your a clumsy one
Fall’n down and broke your arm again”
There’s a price you’ve paid from pain and it’s not freedom

Oh Tom the anger that you keep
Is the anchor to your father’s wrongs
Oh Tom don’t make him pay by punishing his son

At seven years of age too scared to run
From the only home he’d ever known
He kept it on his own and the secrets eat the man away
I believe him when he says his anger is a hidden thing
It’s disguised itself from even him
You can’t see your rage, the secret dragon in our love

Oh Tom, if you can’t forgive
How will you heal your father’s wrongs?
Oh Tom don’t make him pay by punishing his son

At thirty-seven years of age
Now you’re running away from home
Your bedroll on your arm by the freight train yards
And after childhood years of drunken hate
If you wish him dead maybe you can relate
To the pain in your heart that you’d wait
Just to hear ‘I love you son’

You deserve to live and be free
You deserve to love and be free

Victims and knaves and distributors of blame
Are players in a game of tears
In the end you waste those years
With bitter hearts still hungry
So come little Tom lay yourself in my arms
A kiss can make it go away
And if it helps today my breast will be your mother’s

Oh Tom, if you can’t forgive
How will you learn to love and live?
Tom don’t make him pay by punishing his son

credits

from The People Have Songs - Volume 1, released August 12, 2020
written, sung & played by Karen Cregan

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Miguel Heatwole image

Miguel Heatwole Sydney, Australia

Miguel’s a versatile singer, choral director & composer. His interests include folk & world music, political satire, the environment, trade unionism & the responsible enjoyment of alcohol. His songwriting embraces themes like peace & justice, the family cat, & visceral passionate attraction. His enthusiasm for recording community singing has let many people share the power of their songs. ... more

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