Title: Songs of My Life

Author: Bill Manhire

In: Sport 11: Spring 1993

Publication details: Fergus Barrowman, November 1993, Wellington

Part of: Sport

Conditions of use

Sport 11: Spring 1993

[section]

‘The Duke of Edinburgh Calypso’: that is the one he sings all the time, especially since the long-term presence of Maria. He does it with loud persuasive feeling, too. There are lines in it, ‘Two paces behind’ and ‘Not even on the one pound note’, which I can never remember what they rhyme with.

Not one of his songs has been in another person’s mouth.

Sometimes of course I will give voice to them. It would feel wrong not to. Actually this one here is a good one which will do for many different situations:

Country gives you heartache
Country gives you pain
Country gives you back your heart
And lets you love again.

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