Sir Francis Drake, hero of the defeat of the Spanish Armada and many a buccaneering adventure besides. His
drum can still be seen at Buckland Abbey, in Devon and there is a tradition that he, like King Arthur and many
other heroes, is just waiting to be called back to save us all from disaster. This song gives the album its overall
title, by the way.
lyrics
Down in the abbey you can see Drake’s drum, far across the Devon moor
They say we’ll hear it beating when the hero comes as it did when he went to war.
They say you’ll hear it beating when we need him most, deep in the Devon hills
Beating the drum like a marching ghost, but it seems that we’re waiting still.
It seems I’ve been listening all my life, listening for the drum
Waiting to be rescued, waiting to live, waiting till the hero comes.
I’ve seen Nelson’s jacket in a fine glass case, clear in a spotlight glare
They say it’s his blood on the delicate lace, a piece of him lying there.
And we’ve dug great holes in the hills and dales looking where Arthur sleeps
Looking for redemption in the myths and tales, salvation in the castle keep.
Far in the forest, deep and dark, there’s a castle where a princess waits
They say she was punctured by a magical dart and left to her sleeping fate
Until one day a prince will come, the right man brave and true
The years will pass while the princess dreams and no other prince will do.
Suppose there are no heroes and there’s no prince, suppose we’re on our own
Stories are just stories, myths are myths, and we have to cope alone
In real life some moments end in pain, there’s nothing you can do
We’re all each other’s heroes, so hold my hand and we’ll try to battle through.
credits
from Waiting for the Hero,
released February 4, 2022
Anne—guitar and vocals. Steafan—mysterious snarebourine and bodhran.
Anne is best known for her song "Icarus", recorded and performed by a number of different singers, including Martin Simpson and Nic Jones. "Astrolabe" is her ninth solo album.
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