Listen to the track:
đ” FAREWELL to WEMBURY (1951)
Inspired by the memoirs of Vyvyen Brendon
đ¶ Verse 1
The call came through in winter’s chill
Falmouth storms, and London’s will
Packed our bags, the sea stood still
And I watched the cliffs from our windowsill
đ¶ Verse 2
Eleven-plus, a world ahead
But hopscotch ghosts danced in my head
The rocks, the tide, the winding shore
Knew they might not see me anymore
đ¶ Chorus
Goodbye beach, goodbye swing
Brownie tracks and hopscotch rings
We left, but carried every sound
Of a village lost, but memory-bound
Red earth roads, soft Devon light
Still walk beside me every night
đ¶ Verse 3
Mum’s old apron, flour-stained
Rod’s old books, the dreams we named
The church bell tolls across the bay
Still rings inside me, anyway
đ¶ Chorus
Goodbye beach, goodbye swing
Brownie tracks and hopscotch rings
We left, but carried every sound
Of a village lost, but memory-bound
Red earth roads, soft Devon light
Still walk beside me every night
đ¶ Bridge
A mangle hums, a seagull cries
My dear dog sleeps, with half-closed eyes
Vic’s shop, the jars, the weekly sweet
Threepenny cones, and sandy feet
đ¶ Final Chorus
Goodbye beach, goodbye swing
Childhood lives in everything
We left, but Wembury never fades
Still blooming in the photo’s shade
Red earth roads, soft Devon light
Still walk beside me every night