Annie's going to sing a song....
This CD includes songs written before I left
Southampton and more recent songs. The Sea has always been a
source of inspiration I was bom in Plymouth and my father was at sea. Tracks 2, 12, 14, and 17 fall into the category
of 'sea songs' and I am very grateful to Compost
Heap, who are Bob Mason, Rob Gould, Allan Pugh and Bob Chance who
together with my husband Dave provided chorus and harmonies on these. Dave also provides the harmonies on Wassail song.
Track 9 is a sea song but was in fact the first
song I wrote after moving to Shropshire. The title track if it
may be called that was written in response to a song by Tom Paxton (which my friend Pat Simons often sings in local sessions) called "Annie's going to sing a song called take me back again" I thought Annie had better write such a song to sing.
The move to Shropshire has provided inspiration
for a number of the songs. Sabrina concerns a legend
about the River Severn and the first verse was largely written by
Dave Reader.
William was the name of the last Trow (Sailing Barge) to sail on the Severn in this area. Major's Leap is a spectacular viewpoint on Wenlock edge, legend has it that Major Tom
Smallman rode his Horse over the edge to escape pursuing roundheads during
the civil war. Child of a child was inspired by many of the young
people I meet in my other life as a defence lawyer. Please has its roots
there and with the people I would regularly see begging in a particular
under pass I used to use in Southampton. Every now and
then was written not long after the twin towers incident
isn't it strange the form that inspiration takes. The
frustrated Lover is a lighted hearted spring song. The other
songs speak for themselves and need no further
explanation.
... Ann Reader
