I'M A FREEBORN MAN          Ewan MacColl
(from the BBC radio program "The Travelling People")

      D                   G             A
I'm a freeborn man of the travelling people -
                                        D
Got no fixed address - with nomads I am numbered.
A                             D      G  D
Country lanes and byways were always my ways.
  G     D       G     C  D
I never fancied being lumbered.


Oh we knew the woods and the resting places,
And the small birds sang when winter times were over,
Then you'd pack your load and be on the road -
They were good old times for a rover.


There was open ground where a man could linger,
Stay a week, or two, for time was not your master,
Then away you'd jog with your horse and dog -
Nice and easy - no need to go faster.


Now and then you'd meet up wi' other travellers,
Hear the news and swap family information.
At the Country Fairs we'd be meeting there
Wi' the people of the travelling nation.


Oh. I've ken't life hard and I've ken't it easy,
And I've cursed the time when Winter down was coming,
And I've danced and sang all the whole night long,
Seen the Summer sunrise in the morning.

(inst)


All you Freeborn Men of the travelling People,
Every tinker, rolling stone and gypsy rover -
Winds of change are blowing, old ways are going -
Your travelling days will soon be over.