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Ruins By the Shore

from Fond Desire Farewell by Debra Cowan

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© Nic Jones

On one of my UK tours, a recording of Nic Jones' brilliant guitar work and singing kept me company on many of the drives. When I first heard “Ruins”, I was drawn in and decided that I had to learn this wonderful anthem of our times.

lyrics

Sometime between ice-ages they first appeared
Fell hungry on the beasts and fish they speared

Now all their bones are blackened
And their faces are no more
As we walk among the ruins by the shore

They worshiped gods and thought they'd never die
But now the spiders nest the tombs wherein they lie

And all their bones are blackened
And their faces are no more
As we walk among the ruins by the shore

They dreamed of golden cities raised into the air
But greed drew their simple hearts into its snare

Now all their bones are blackened
And their faces are no more
As we walk among the ruins by the shore

Kings, tyrants and their empires on the Earth held sway
Their belief in science took their souls away

And all their bones are blackened
And their faces are no more
As we walk among the ruins by the shore

We search the heavens and the silent sky
Hoping that life will fall on blinded eyes

But all our bones will blacken
And our faces be no more
As we lay among the ruins by the shore
As we lay among the ruins by the shore.

credits

from Fond Desire Farewell, released April 28, 2009
Arranged and Produced by Dave Mattacks

Musicians
Debra Cowan: Vocals, Acoustic guitar on “Wall...” “Night Owl...” “Salisbury...”, English Concertina on “Rainbow”, “Night Owl”
Dave Mattacks: Drums, Cymbals, Percussion, Piano, Pump Organ, Hammered Dulcimer, Wurlitzer Piano, Toy Piano
Duke Levine: Acoustic Guitar, Mandola, National Guitar, Octave Mandolin Marty Ballou: Upright Bass Joyce Andersen: Fiddle

With: Billy Novick: Clarinet and Wolf Ginandes:Tuba on “Alcohol”
Additional Vocals: Mike Barry on “Rainbow”, “Lili...” and “Yon Green Valley”
Ruth Peterson, Mike and Julie Barry on “Darkest Hour...” Mike, Julie and Liam Barry on “Lili...”

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Debra Cowan Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Singer Debra Cowan performs a cappella and with guitar, interpreting a wide range of folk songs. Debra has two acclaimed solo recordings to her credit, and her third, “Fond Desire Farewell” was produced by former Fairport Convention drummer Dave Mattacks. A former California resident, she now resides in Massachusetts and tours all over North America and the United Kingdom. ... more

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