Name: The Prestwich Treasure (1)
Duration: P00H03M12S
Description: No Shropshire connection, as the lyric took shape when I was exploring more historical and traditional songwriting themes. I did actually live in Prestwich at one time, but Hulme Hall, the site of the mystery, was in Hulme, oddly enough.

The Prestwich Treasure (1)

from So Sound You Sleep (More Tears of Morning) by David A. Harley

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£1 GBP or more
Buy the Full Digital Album
Full Digital Discography

28

releases

Get all 28 David A. Harley releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Brookland Voices, The Road, In a Folkier Vein, Swan Songs, So Sound You Sleep (More Tears of Morning), Seven Years In The Sand (single), Nobody's Song, Marking Time - The 3rd Demo Album, and 20 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

£98.48 GBP or more (35% OFF)

about

No Shropshire connection, as the lyric took shape when I was exploring more historical and traditional songwriting themes. I did actually live in Prestwich at one time, but Hulme Hall, the site of the mystery, was in Hulme, oddly enough.

lyrics

"What news, Sir Thomas Prestwich?
What battles lost and won?"
"Mamma, the King is sorely pressed,
His armies overrun."
"Give him all you have, my son,
His armies to maintain;
And God confound the Parliament
That brought him to such shame."

"Mama, the King is sorely pressed,
But I dare not stake my wealth,
For I fear the cause is already lost,
And we must think of ourselves."
"Give him all you have, my son,
For wealth I have for thee,
Guarded well by charms and spells,
My voice the only key."

Mama, the King is dead,
The Prince fled overseas,
And with him flown my fortune,
Prosperity and ease."
But Lady Prestwich said no word,
And no sign could she make,
Nor ever did until she died,
The enchantment for to break.

"Cruel was the sickness
Robbed my mother of her speech
And me of my inheritance,
Forever out of reach.
Cruel was the Protector,
Who robbed me of my lands,
The price set for their recovery
Three hundred and thirty pounds."

"I'll maybe find an astrologer,
Some sorcerer I'll find
To break the spell and find the wealth
My mother put aside."
Many tried, and many failed:
Sir Thomas sought in vain
For that treasure never found
Unto this very day.

"A curse upon my mother,
It's ill she counselled me:
The treasure that she promised me,
It seems I'll never see.
My lands are sold to pay my debts,
My fortune is no more:
I'll bid farewell to thee, Hulme Hall,
That I will see no more."

credits

from So Sound You Sleep (More Tears of Morning), released February 8, 2023
Vocal and lyric by David A. Harley. Tune traditional (based on 'The Wars of Germany').

license

about

David A. Harley England, UK

David Harley is a former professional musician, administrator, IT security editor, author and researcher, and former much else that is even less impressive. He now lives in Cornwall. More info at whealalice.com