Tae the Poets - Official Video

TAE THE POETS by CHRIS CONNELLY from the album THE BIRTHDAY POEMS
https://www.thebirthdaypoems.com/

Video by DERICK SMITH and MATT WALKER, filmed on location at GMAN TAVERN

THE BIRTHDAY POEMS is a fictionalized account of the romance between STELLA CARTWRIGHT and GEORGE MACKAY BROWN, and their friendship with STANLEY ROGER GREEN

About TAE THE POETS
A very shy George Mackay Brown would visit the Rose Street bars of Edinburgh and nurse a pint, hoping to meet his poetic heroes. When invited to join the throng one night by Sydney Goodsir Smith, George, cripplingly shy, did not accept the offer. It would take a little time, and a few more pints of McEwan’s Heavy, before George became a part of the group himself.

Lyrics
STANDIN’ BY MASELF IN THE ABBOTSFORD BAR
THIS CLOAK AND DAGGER DRINKIN’
HASNAE GOT ME VERY FAR
I’M PENNILESS, UNCOMFORTABLE
BUT I’M DRAWN TOWARDS THE THRONG
IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE POETS’ CLUB
AND I WANT TO BELONG

MACCAIG IS IN THE CORNER
TOM SCOTT IS IN HIS CUPS
POLITICAL SLANDER, LIVELY CANDOR
LOUD TO ME BUT IT’S NEVER ENOUGH
I WANT TO CATCH THEIR EYES
BUT I’M TOO SHY TO BE CAUGHT
A POET AND HIS LONELY VICE
BUT A SCOT IS STILL A SCOT

WE’RE NOT THE KNIGHTS IN ARMOUR
JUST LANGUAGE, WORDS AND CHARM,
MEN OF BOWED AND HUMBLE MEANS
TAE THE POETS!

WELL THEY DID A WEE BIT COAXING
AND THEY BROUGHT ME OUT MY SHELL
THE CONVERSATIONS BUBBLING UP
FROM A BOTTOMLESS WELL
THE SOFT TONGUE OF THE ORKNEYS
AMID THIS POETS’ JAMBOREE
BUT THEY LEND AN EAR TO THIS QUIET MAN
AND LISTEN TO ME

AND SOON OUR STORIES INTERTWINE
THREAD IN THE TAPESTRY
THE COLOURS OF GOD AND POLITICS
WAR, TRANQUILITY
THEY LOSE YOU AND THEY FIND YOU
BUT THE VERSE IS ALWAYS THERE
IF IT’S ROSE STREET LATE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT
THE POETS ARE EVERYWHERE

WE WRITE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
FROM THE LOWLANDS TO THE ISLES
AND SING THE LOVE OF LANGUAGE TO THE SKY
TAE THE POETS!

AND WE WALK THE HILLS TOGETHER
WITH HEATHER IN OUR HEARTS
THEN WE THAW OUT BY THE FIRE IN DINGY BARS
TAE THE POETS

AND WE CROSS THE WORLD TO FIND YOU
AND WE TELL IT FROM THE SOUL
AND BRAVE THE DARK WITH PASSION FOR A GUIDE
TAE THE POETS!

WE’RE INSATIABLE ROMANTICS
AND WE NEVER TELL THE TRUTH
AND LOVE IS JUST A GUESSING GAME WE PLAY
TAE THE POETS!