"On This Celtic Morning" - June 2010
I have often effused about my love affair with the ancient game of Golf. It’s a sport I have played as best I could since I was ten years old, and if you ‘get it’ then you know how all consuming it is and if you don’t thats fine. With the ‘The Ryder Cup’ coming to Wales for the first time at the end of September, I found myself fumbling with a few lyrical ideas that eventually became a song.
I looked on-line for other Ryder Cup music but only found some very jingoistic efforts directed at the USA team, which to be honest, didn't do them any artistic favor. ‘On This Celtic Morning’ tries to embrace the unique spirit of this beloved game and is hopefully an acknowledgment of the past as well as the amazing skills of todays fairway magicians. I don’t know if it will be of any use to anyone in particular but it felt right to put it out there amidst the excitement that is building by the M4 intersection with Newport.Martyn JosephJune 2010On this Celtic morningOn this Celtic morningUnder Manor skiesA valleys eyes are smilingAnd the river asking why?There is a tiger on the landTo meet the dragon always thereAnd men will play this great game againIn spirit true and fairGrass that’s drawn from waterIrons wrought of sandThe beauty in the walkingThe shaking of your handOn this Celtic morningUnder Manor skiesFlags of nations flyingAnd hope is running highPure strikes from the middleAnd never from the toeThere may be some beautiful healingStill the river wants to knowWhy there’s a tiger on the landTo meet the dragon always thereTell her history lives beyond usAnd used to be the golden bearShe’s the grace to lose with honorTo win with empathyIt’s the passion of the matadorAs a boy with his 3 iron by the seaAnd the gods who play before usSomehow carry all our namesAs tall as any mountainBut never bigger than the gameOn this Celtic morningUnder Manor skiesFlags of nations flyingAnd hope is running highOn this Celtic morningUnder Manor skiesRhythm time and motionRuns deep and testifiesAnd welcomes brothers to the landTo meet the dragons always thereAnd men will play this great game againIn spirit true and fairOn this Celtic morningUnder Manor skiesOn this Celtic morningUnder Samuel Ryder skies.Copyright - Martyn Joseph 201001 On This Celtic Morning