“This fortress built by Nature for herself against infection...” The bitter irony of Shakespeare’s words are stingingly poignant when stretched across the parallel experience of pandemic disease, incompetent self serving governance, and extremes of wealth and poverty that is the backdrop of our own lives.
lyrics
In England’s green and pleasant land
This happy breed of men will stand
Against the tide of time and Man
In England’s pleasant land
This fortress built by Nature’s wealth
Against infection for herself
Will spurn the bile of plague and stealth
In England’s pleasant land
This royal throne, this sceptered isle,
Does all its enemies beguile
And on us all the warm sun smiles
In England’s pleasant land
It lights upon the golden few
And shines upon the homeless too
Who sleep on cold streets in full view
In Englands Pleasant land
This precious stone set in silver sea
Where justice will always agree
With those who can afford the fee
In England’s pleasant land
The landlord with his pockets deep
To warmth and comfort wakes from sleep
While others struggle for their keep
In England’s pleasant Land
This majesty, this Godly seat
Where fine reward the just do reap
And all folk do their station keep
In England’s pleasant land
With mountains, cliffs and beaches grand
This envy of less happy lands
It’s here the noble English stand
In England’s pleasant land
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 29, 2020
Durham, NC singer-songwriter Skylar Gudasz makes intimate Americana delivered with dry wit and stunningly precise vocal acumen. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 14, 2020