A careless corvid cut the air

A golden jacobus in its beak

As it flew over the water

Its grasp upon the coin grew weak

The jacobus then fell to earth

Where John Duck stood, his future bleak

It set his mind to such a fire

He would show that butchers’ clique

All the elements now in place

To raise him from a standing meek

John’s jacobus, that mighty coin

Would bring the fortune he did seek

(Gary Miller)

© 2018 Whippet Records

Copyright Control MCPS/PRS

Written as a spoken-word piece to an accompanying tune. Both the lyrics and tune were inspired by 'John's Jacoubus (A Tale of Durham's Dick Wittington)', an illustration by Helen Temperley, as part of the upcoming project 'The Butcher Baronet', in collaboration with Lone Pine Pictures, about the 17th Century Durham City historical figure John Duck.

Other songs and tunes from this project include : -

'The Beer Token'

'Behind the Wall'

'The Butcher Baronet'

'Ca' Hawkie'

'Cast Out'

'City of Dreams'

'Cloak and Hood'

'Duck's Overture'

'Dunholm'

'Elementary (Turn Turn Again)'

'Flesh and Bone'

'Fortune Weaver'

'Go Away!'

'Golden Journey: Through Air / Over Water / To Earth / On Fire'

'Here's to You, John Duck!'

'Hold on'

'Merrily Danced The Butcher's Wife'

'My Butcher Boy'

'Now I Dream'

'Old Duck's Main'

'Old Duck's Rant'

'Rolling on (A Hymn for John and Ann)'

'Shiny Thing'

'Top of the Hill'

'We Don't Talk About Him 'Round Here'