An elegy to lost land – and a love letter to coastal Suffolk – written from the perspective of Jacob Forster. The East Anglian port town of Dunwich fell into the sea over the centuries, and Forster’s is the only grave left on the cliffside where the church once stood. Local legend suggests that when the conditions are right you can still hear the church bells tolling from beneath the waves.
Lyrics
An Eastern spell on the East coast
Then half a mile from the sea
Neither grey friar nor heaven
Could claim no mastery
I have often slept in a finer bed
Than that she shared with me
A peaceful believer
Waves warm and eager
An Eastern spell on the East coast
Come drag me down to the deep
Let the stones fall five fathoms
Pull the ground from under me
I have often slept in a quieter bed
Than that she shared with me
But the sea called to meet us
The beach is between us
And all this will pass without notice, and all this will pass beyond care…
An Eastern spell on the East coast
Then half a mile from the sea
Now the bells, bones are sodden
And sing so quietly
I have often slept in a finer bed
Than that she shared with me
A peaceful believer
Waves warm and eager
Credits
Written by Joseph Woods, Arr. by Remorae
Florence Brady – vocals
Lauren Spiceley – fiddle and vocals
Martha Wiltshire – cello
Joe Woods – guitar and vocals
Denis Wouters – electronics
Recorded at Pony Studios by Upcycled Sounds
Mixed by Denis Wouters
Mastered by Felix Davis
Artwork by Floortje Kattemölle, photographed by Martijn Petrus