An Old Cricketer

Roy Harper, performing at the Palace Theatre,
Manchester, 18 September 2010

WHEN AN OLD CRICKETER LEAVES THE CREASE

Great song from Roy Harper who remembers how England was before it all come unstuck.

[Verse 1]

          C                  Fmaj7                C               Dm

When the day is done and the ball has spun in the umpires pocket away,

    C                   Fmaj7                     C                  Dm

And all remains in the groundsman's pains for the rest of time and a day;

             C                  Em      Am                        Dm

There'll be one mad dog and his master, pushing for four with the spin

      C                Fmaj7              C                  G

On a dusty pitch, with two pounds six, of willow wood in the sun.

 

[Chorus]

        C             Fmaj7                  C                       Dm

When an old cricketer leaves the crease, you never know whether he's gone;

   C                           Fmaj7                 C                        G

If sometimes you're catching a fleeting glimpse of a twelfth man at Silly Mid-On;

        C                      Fmaj7                C                     Dm

And it could be Geoff, and it could be John, with a new ball sting in his tail;

        C                  Fmaj7                 C                         G

And it could be me, and it could be thee, and it could be the sting in the ale,

Fmaj7                   Fmaj7

sting in the ale.

The line "It could be Geoff ..." features in the song

[Bridge]

C       Fmaj7   C       Dm

C       Fmaj7   C       Dm

C       Em      Am      Dm

C       Fmaj7   C       G

        C                      Fmaj7                C                     Dm

And it could be Geoff, and it could be John, with a new ball sting in his tail;

        C                  Fmaj7                 C                         G

And it could be me, and it could be thee, and it could be the sting in the ale,

Fmaj7                   Fmaj7

sting in the ale.

 

[Verse 2]

          C                    Fmaj7                     C                     Dm

When the moment comes, and the gathering stands, and the clock turns back to reflect

       C                        Fmaj7                   C                    Dm

On the years of grace, as those footsteps trace for the last time out of the act;

          C                 Em            Am                    Dm

Well this way of life's recollection, the hallowed strip in the haze,

    C                   Fmaj7                 C                             G

The fabled men, and the noonday sun, are much more than just yarns of their days.

 

[Chorus]

        C             Fmaj7                  C                       Dm

When an old cricketer leaves the crease, you never know whether he's gone;

   C                           Fmaj7                 C                        G

If sometimes you're catching a fleeting glimpse of a twelfth man at Silly Mid-On;

        C                      Fmaj7                C                     Dm

And it could be Geoff, and it could be John, with a new ball sting in his tail;

        C                  Fmaj7                 C                         G

And it could be me, and it could be thee, and it could be the sting in the ale,

Fmaj7                   Fmaj7

sting in the ale.

The chords and lyrics are courtesy of Marcun31. I found this book on cricket and should probably read it as I don't fully understand the rules.

Here are some everyday expressions that are possibly cricket-related:

• "A good innings": This refers to a successful or productive period in someone's life, often implying a period of achievement or enjoyment.
  
  
• "Bowled over": This means to be deeply impressed or astonished by something.
  
  
• "A clean sweep": This refers to a complete victory, with no opposition.
  
  
• "To be stumped": This means to be confused or bewildered, not knowing what to do or say.
  
  
• "To be on a sticky wicket": This means to be in a difficult or awkward situation.
  
  
• "A close shave": This refers to a narrow escape or a situation where danger was narrowly avoided.
  
  
• "To be on the ball": This means to be alert, attentive, and aware of what is happening.
  
  
• "To bowl someone over": This can also mean to impress or overwhelm someone with charm, wit, or personality.