The Poet
Barclay James Harvest Lyrics


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Here I sit watching the day out
No one beside me who may doubt
All of the words that I could chose to say
So listen, believe, or be gone from this day

I need a friend to walk with me
And sit in the shade of an old tree
To think nothing much, just agree with my thoughts
To say nothing much, never tell what I ought

Watching the people pass by now
They just don't know why or know how
They don't seem to care about all that I've seen
They just walk on by never knowing I've been
Sitting up here where I'm wind blown
Only to ask and to be shown




Things that would make you believe what I say
I'll tell you myself and I'll show you some day

Overall Meaning

In the song "The Poet" by Barclay James Harvest, the lyrics express a sense of isolation and longing for connection through the persona of a poet. The opening lines "Here I sit watching the day out, No one beside me who may doubt" convey a sense of loneliness and the need for someone to understand the poet's innermost thoughts and feelings. The poet finds solace in nature, symbolized by the shade of an old tree, where they can ruminate without distraction or judgment from others.


The third verse expresses the poem's frustration with ordinary people who are too preoccupied with their daily lives to pay attention to the significant things in the world, and the poet feels unnoticed by others. The lines "They just walk on by never knowing I've been Sitting up here where I'm wind-blown, Only to ask and to be shown" describe the poet's sense of invisibility, and the desire to be seen and heard.


Overall, the song "The Poet" by Barclay James Harvest paints a vivid picture of a solitary but insightful poet, who wishes for someone to listen to their thoughts and ideas about the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Here I sit watching the day out
I am currently sitting and observing the day as it goes on


No one beside me who may doubt
There is nobody present who may question the validity of my thoughts


All of the words that I could chose to say
I have many words that I could choose to express my thoughts


So listen, believe, or be gone from this day
If you are not willing to listen and believe what I have to say, then you should leave


I need a friend to walk with me
I desire a companion to accompany me


And sit in the shade of an old tree
We will rest in the shade of an aged tree


To think nothing much, just agree with my thoughts
I don't want deep thoughts, just someone to agree with what I am thinking


To say nothing much, never tell what I ought
Don't speak too much, just remain quiet and not share any inappropriate things


Watching the people pass by now
I am currently observing people passing me by


They just don't know why or know how
They seem to have a lack of understanding about why things happen or how things work


They don't seem to care about all that I've seen
They appear indifferent to everything I have experienced


They just walk on by never knowing I've been
They walk past me without realizing that I am there


Sitting up here where I'm wind blown
I am perched somewhere where the wind is blowing


Only to ask and to be shown
I am awaiting something to be revealed to me


Things that would make you believe what I say
These things would be convincing enough to make you believe what I am saying


I'll tell you myself and I'll show you some day
One day, I will tell and show you everything myself




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STUART J WOLSTENHOLME

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Jenz Hede

THE POET
Here I sit watching the day out
No-one beside me who may doubt
All of the words that I could chose to say
So listen, believe, or be gone from this day

I need a friend to walk with me
And sit in the shade of an old tree
To think nothing much, just agree with my thoughts
To say nothing much, never tell what I ought

Watching the people pass by now
They just don't know why or know how
They don't seem to care about all that I've seen
They just walk on by never knowing I've been

Sitting up here where I'm wind blown
Only to ask and to be shown
Things that would make you believe what I say
I'll tell you myself and I'll show you some day

AFTER THE DAY
The eyes of night march slowly by
The last grain falls
The kneeling man just sighs
Protected by the one great wall
Of coloured parts
He probes his clouded mind

If he takes a look around him
Is there nothing left to see
Is there nothing left at all
After the day

With trembling hands he wipes his eyes
He tries to stand
But does not feel the need
The morning sun shines on
The multicoloured cross
Left standing through it all

If he takes a look around him
Is there nothing left to see
Is there nothing left at all
After the day

If he takes a look around him
Is there nothing left to see
Is there nothing left at all
After the day



All comments from YouTube:

Paul Griffiths

isn't it wonderful that we have geniuses on this planet giving us meer mortals pleasure with music like this,sadly they are a rare thing today,and a lot of artists from this golden era of music are passing away,thank goodness that their music will always be with us as a legacy of their talent.

Ken Reeve

how right you are its tinged with an aire of sadness in the world we live in today , its heart warming to look back and enjoy this era , modern musi has its place today , today is very brief x

William Wilkes

Too right

Miyuki Shijisha

So well put. I saw BJH 3 times back then, always so touching emotionally.

Ed

Approx 46 years ago i first heard this band.. I purchased a vinyl sampler on which were the songs Mockingbird and After the day... along with others of course..These two aforementioned were the stand out tracks.. Little did i know then, that i would almost 50 years later be able to say that i have never tired of hearing these.. They are classic and timeless.. My love affair with this band has never ceased.. Thanks for the music...

Miyuki Shijisha

Sounds like you may have bought the PICNIC sampler?

John Sunderland

@philwear ...and Early Morning Onwards

Mari Pires

it's already two :)

Peter Cox

Bill Simpson well said bill simply a wonderful band that has made lovely music not everyones taste but if you like them then WOW what a BLAST

philwear

After the Day was on Harvest Bag

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