Hoewel we met zijn allen helemaal op gingen in de lokale Franse sferen, riep de scene waarin we zaten bij mij sterke associaties op met een song van een van mijn favoriete groepen, The Band. Op een natte en koude rustdag dwaalden m'n gedachten af naar de bewogen stem van Richard Manuel.
Les Vendanges. Naar 'King Harvest' (of deze live uitvoering uit 1970 in de 'Pink House' in Woodstock) van The Band (bewerkt JMG 2012)
Bunch on the vines. Just look at all these hills when the sun sets them on fire Les Vendanges vont commencer I'll work for Boulon, cause he's so good to me And I'm bound to pick all these rows, That's what I am here to do. I will hear ev'ry word Mr Boulon may say, For he's the boss who hands me down my pay. Looks like this time I'm gonna get to stay, I'm a grapepicker now, all the way
The smell of the wine, From the fermenting grapes in the caves, Les Vendanges ont commencés
Dry summer, then comes fall, Which he depends on most of all. Hey, rainmaker, will you be careful with this hail Please don't let Boulon once more turn pale We just don't want to see him cross Cause it's no joke to have an angry boss But I will be pickin all day As long as Boulon will give us pay
An old piano in the dormitory, And pretty soon a festival on the edge of town, Les Vendanges ont commencés
Last year, this time, there was no fun Freezing cold and hardly sun A broken love did make me sad And I can't remember things bein' so bad. Cut my fingers just a thousand times Stickin' that serpette into them vines Then comes in Darbon with wellies and coats And pooring in some wine to oil our throats
Bunch on the vines. Just look at all these hills when the sun sets them on fire Les Vendanges vont commencer
Ook een mooie rauwe opname van King Harvest hier in de Casino Arena in 1976 Zie verder het e-book 'Goedkoop door Amerika'.