serai

I first encountered this song many years ago, on an LP a friend of mine let me borrow. Its extraordinary imagery captured my imagination instantly. The metaphor has a richness whose equal I've never encountered - the song fills me with a melancholy yet joyful depth, a yearning for I know not what.

It doesn't hurt that the version I heard was recorded by Bert Jansch, one of the masters of folk music. He created a simple yet elegant arrangement, pairing guitar with Irish harp, and sung in his melodious, thoughtful voice. The song can be found on his album Moonshine, which is not very easy to get, but well worth the hunt, believe me.

So here it is. Something about this song, and Jansch's performance of it, is connected with LOTR in my mind. Not sure why. Tell me what you think. :)

The January Man
by Dave Goulder

Oh, the January Man,
He walks the road in woollen coat
And boots of leather
The February Man still shakes the snow
From off his hair and blows his hands
Oh, the Man of March,
He sees the Spring and wonders
What the year will bring
And hopes for better weather

Through April rain, the Man
Goes down to watch the birds come in
To share the summer
The Man of May stands very still
Watching the children
Dance away the day
In June the man inside the Man
Is young and wants to lend a hand
And grins at each new color

And in July the Man
In cotton shirt, he sits and thinks
On being idle
The August Man in thousands
Takes the road to watch the sea
And find the Sun
September Man is standing near
To saddle up and leave the year
And Autumn is his bridle

And the Man of new October
Takes the reins
An early frost is on his shoulder
The poor November Man sees fire
And rain and snow and mist
And the winter gale
December Man looks through the snow
To let eleven brothers know
They're all a little older

And the January Man
Comes round again in woollen clothes
And boots of leather
To take another turn
And walk along the icy road
He knows so well
Oh, the January Man is here
For starting each and every year
Along the road forever...