Jim Moray (with Tom Moore) • The Bramble Briar, live at Ullet Rd Unitarian Church, Liverpool

[@Benwheatleys]

325 views... wtf.. man that was so good. Love your music Jim, reconnecting with it after some time 🤍✌️

[@adrianmcgachie]

I felt compelled to write a poem, personal to me, but I found inspiration in your interpretation of the song, Jim. I called the poem "The Bramble Briar", after doing some research. Loved your song. xx

[@adrianmcgachie]

The Bramble Briar. When you accepted our money I can’t deny I didn’t realise you’d rather have given me a black eye. When you accepted our hospitality Who knew knew you still had the banality To want to end it in brutality? We thought you had found geniality. When you declared, “I’d like to hate”, “But I find him sedate” Who knew in the bramble of the briar You were just fanning the flames of the pyre? I’d have taken the call, Pre-emptive of the brawl That would be my fall. We respect you tower us Yet feel powerless Because you know so much But kept so out of touch.

[@n3bie]

Wow, what a beautiful interpretation! I think this is right, though I'm not sure if "they werst" or "the worst" :o In Bruton town there lived a farmer. He had two sons and a daughter dear, and day and night they were contriving to fill their poor parents' hearts with fear One night as they were at the drinking the youngest to the eldest said, "I think our servant courts our sister I think they have a mind to wed." "Well if our servant courts our sister, I should think that such a shame. I'll put an end to all their courting I'll send him silent towards his grave." A match of hunting it was prepared through woods and valleys where the briars do grow, and there they did this young man murder and in the thorns there his body did throw. When these two brothers came home from hunting their sister called for the serving man, "I ask because I see your whisper come tell me brothers if you can." "Oh sister, sister, you do offend us. With all your questions let them be. We left him in the field of hunting, and then no more of him we did see." Straight to bed went this fair young woman lamenting for her one true love. She dreamed she saw him stand by a pillow, his coat and collar were drenched with blood, "If you rise early in the morning straightways to the woods do go. It's there you'll find my body lying. Your cruel brothers caused my overthrow." So she rose early in the morning straightways to the woods did go, and there she found his body lying in the bramble briar where the thorns do grow. The blood that was on his lips a drying, his tears were salt as any brine. She sometimes kissed him after his crying, "Here lies the boldest friend of mine." "Since my two brothers have been so cruel to take your tender life away, this grave will hold us both together. In the bramble briar until death I'll stay."

[@jimmoray]

it's just "they were", but the rest of that looks right. This version is based on the one sung by Ewan MacColl on his album The Manchester Angel. He called it "Strawberry Town" - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYvImZ2vac10iNk

[@n3bie]

@@jimmoray Thanks for the clarification and the link, I'll check out out