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Seashells, Snakestones

from Mary Anning of Lyme by Kevin Adams

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about

"You’re dreaming."
"I’m remembering. It distracts me from the pain.
When we were children..."
"Go on."
"...You would take Joseph and me to the shore and teach us fossiling."
"And I would tell you our names for them- not the fancy ones the gentlemen said."
But she is, of course, still dreaming.
(Richard Anning died in 1810.)

lyrics

Seashells, Snakestones

Seashells, snake-stones,
Devil’s toenails, thunderbolts
Curioes for gentlefolk
To take home from their tour.

This here’s a snakestone
Ammonite they calls it
Curled up like a serpent
You must treat him well
Come in all the sizes
The bigger ones we prizes
Fetch a pretty penny when we sell
Fetch a pretty penny when we sell

Chorus

When the devil trims his toenails
This is where we find them
This way and that way
Strewn along the shore
Gnarly and scrawny
Scaly and horny
The devil sweeps ‘em out the gates of Hell
Fetch a pretty penny when we sell

Chorus

Be wary of cliff falls
Watch where your feet land
The hidden pits and ledges
Must be learned
Always on an ebbtide
When you search the seaside
The sea can catch you when your back is turned
The sea can catch you when your back is turned

Chorus

Seashells, snake-stones,
Devil’s toenails, thunderbolts
Curioes for gentlefolk
To take home from their tour.
Curioes for us to sell
From our old cottage door;
Curioes for gentlefolk
To take home from their tour.

credits

from Mary Anning of Lyme, released June 21, 2020
Words & music Kevin Adams
Whistle, flute: Sheena Masson
Vocals: Terry Brown

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Kevin Adams Milton Keynes, UK

Blending traditional folk music with a love of other genres- classical, jazz, folk-rock, prog-rock, pop… music, music, music…

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