Malcolm Spencer has written and performed a song about lockdown in Rathmell

Rathmell is lucky to have several musically talented households, and from the Spencers comes a song about the ups and downs of the coronavirus lockdown, as felt here in the village. Few of us around here would disagree that of all places to be obliged into isolation, Rathmell is a very fortunate one, both for the beauty of the location and for the spirit of fellow villagers. Malcolm’s song lyrics reflect this time well, and provide a lovely record of an unusual time here.

If anyone else in the village would also like to share words, tunes, pictures or achievements – from this locked-down Spring, or indeed from any other time – we’d be very happy to add them to the village website. As ever, you can email editor@rathmellvillage.org.uk or give one of us a ring, or stop us for a chat as we pass by.

Lyrics

v.1
Rathmell in May 2020
Was such a strange place to be,
Roads were empty and streets were bare –
All you could do was just stand and stare –
Coronavirus was sweeping the land
All on a fine spring-like day,
All on a fine spring-like day.

Chorus
But …. kindly people were lending a hand for us,
Lending a hand for us, lending a hand for us,
Kindly people were lending a hand
All on a fine spring-like day.

v.2
Never before had we seen this
Dark times were surely ahead,
All was silent and fully locked down –
Settle was empty – it’s just a ghost town –
Social distancing now was the norm
All on a fine spring-like day,
All on a fine spring-like day.

Chorus
But …. kindly people were saying hello to us,
Saying hello to us, saying hello to us,
Kindly people were saying hello
All on a fine spring-like day.

v.3
Feelings of hope gradually surfaced
Gardens once more came alive,
Daily exercise does us all good –
Walking or cycling with blue skies above –
Bird song was heard once again down the Dale
All on a fine spring-like day,
All on a fine spring-like day.

Chorus
And …. kindly people just went to the shops for us,
Brought home our meat for us –
Did Click and Collect for us,
New friendships were made as we all said “hello”
All on a fine spring-like day …. “Yes” (spoken)
All on a fine spring-like –
All on a fine spring-like –
All on a fine spring-like day …. “Keep safe” (spoken)