where thatch grew rich upon the downs
where as a child i bedded down
where rivers ran and streams did play
country proud and zunners gay
where farmland stretched within the eye
where grass was long and trees were high
where lanes were twisting tales of life
where birds and vixen spent their nights
where cock did crow and gals did chase
across the heath where kisses saved
there neath the boughs where blossoms bloomed
they chased the girls for afternoons
where church bells sounds and forest woke
to sunshine leaves and farmers jokes
where inns were rich in course n tones
where ale was drunk and debts were loaned
across these lands of farming folk
the village idiot once eloped
within the shades of oak and birch
the milkmaid with the lads would converse
tale s were told and songs were sung
along the purbeck hills left wondering
where tanks now haunt the countryside
once was a gem of life abide
the past is just a treasure trove of memories
of flying geese and summers breeze
where dartford warblers sang each morn
sand lizards scurried across warehams high lawns
the river frome could tell a tale
once frozen over afore the sale
the sandpits games of yesterdays
gave way to enterprise they say