Released on HQ.
Released on HQ.
Released on Unhinged and Born In Captivity II.
Released on Cropredy - The Best & The Guests.
Released on War Child Music - Mojo Live EP.
Annotated lyrics by Gordon Walker (thanks Gordon!) with minor additions by others:
When the day is done, and the ball has spun
The ball is the thing which is bowled at the batsman, often with spin
and/or pace, who then tries to hit it for runs - or more often than not
just tries not to get out.
In the umpire's pocket away,
The umpire is a bloke who stands at the opposite end of the pitch or
"wicket" to the batsman and makes decisions as to the rules of the
game. There are 2 umpires, one for each end, and these are normally
elderly statesmen of the game who's views should never questioned, even
though they may be short-sighted old ********s.
And all remains, in the groundsman's pains,
The groundsman is the bloke who lovingly and painstakingly prepares
the pitch and is constantly blamed by losing teams for his bad pitches.
For the rest of time and a day.
There'll be one mad dog and his master, pushing for 4 with the
spin.
When batting against a slow spin bowler, a batsman may be able to get
a boundry (4 runs) by reading the spin of the ball correctly and with
good timing tickle it behind him and round the "wicketkeeper"
(basically the same as a backstop) with just a defensive forward push
shot.
On a dusty pitch, with two pounds six, of willowwood in the
sun.
A traditional cricket bat is made of willowwood and weighs 2lb 6.
When an old cricketer leaves the crease, you never know whether
he's gone,
The crease is the area of the pitch where the batsman stands to play
the ball, just in front of the stumps - "leaving the crease" means
you're "out" (bowled, caught, runout....), your own personal innings
has ended...
If sometimes you're catching a fleeting glimpse, of a twelfth man
at silly mid-on.
Silly mid-on is a fielding position close to the bat (and not often
used) which is generally a silly place to stand! The twelfth man is a
substitute fielder.
And it could be Geoff, and it could be John,
Ref to two old star players, Geoff Boycott (one of Englands greatest
ever batsman and controversial Yorkshireman) and John Snow (fast
bowler, but not quite as famous as Geoff). Both were quite old England
players at the time when this was written (Geoff Boycott actually went
on for many years more, though John Snow retired quite soon after I
think).
With a new ball sting in his tail.
A new ball is given to the fielding team at the beginning of each
innings (each team has usually two innings each) and also after so many
overs (there are six balls bowled in an "over") and usually given to
the fast bowlers, who will be more fired up with it as it's more
dangerous than the old one.
And it could be me, and it could be thee,
And it could be the sting in the ale.........sting in the ale.
Pissed again! :-)
When the moment comes, and the gathering stands,
And the clock turns back to reflect,
On the years of grace, as those footsteps trace,
For the last time out of the act.
This is all just nostalgic references to the day when the "old
cricketer" retires (if this needs any explantion :-)).
"Years of grace" is a reference to Dr W.G. Grace - the greatest English
cricketer of the nineteenth century.
Well this ways of life's recollection
The hallowed strip in the haze,
This just refers to the pitch - basically a 22 yard strip specially
prepared in the middle on the cricket ground.
The fabled men, and the moonday sun,
Are much more than just yarns of their days.
More nostalgic ramblings.
2011-01-09 10:48:41 UTC - GNU/Linux (i686)