> The Watersons > Songs > Mole in a Hole

Mole in a Hole

[Mike Waterson]

Richard Thompson learned Mike Waterson's song at the Bright Phoebus sessions and recorded it a few years later with Linda Thompson singing for their 1975 album, Hokey Pokey.

Mike Waterson sang his own song with Blue Murder (Jim Boyes, Dave & Heather Brady, Lal, Mike, Norma & Rachel Waterson, and Martin Carthy) live at the Bracknell Folk Festival in July 1987, together with the ANC Song (Azicatal). This was published in 2004 on the Watersons' 4CD anthology Mighty River of Song. A reformed Blue Murder (with Barry Coope, Jim Boyes, Lester Simpson, Mike & Norma Waterson, and Eliza and Martin Carthy) recorded Mole in a Hole in 2002 for their album No One Stands Alone.

Cover Versions

  1. Richard & Linda Thompson on their album Hokey Pokey (February 1975)

  2. Chris & Siobhan Nelson, Day Has Dawned (June 2006)

Lyrics

Mike Waterson sings Mole in a Hole Linda Thompson sings Mole in a Hole

I woke this morning and my hair was a mess
And my feet were smelly and I'd got bad breath
I might look great but I feel like death
I'm a refugee

I like the flowers, I like the bees
I like the woodlands and the trees
I like the Byrds on their LPs
And I'm a refugee
Chorus (twice after each verse):
And I wanna be a mole in a hole
Digging low and slow
Wanna be a fly flying high in the sky
Chorus (twice after each verse):
Wanna be a mole in a hole
Digging low and slow
Wanna be a fly flying high in the sky

I had a friend and he had a friend in Jesus
Well he used to read the good book every day
My friend he got so friendly with friend Jesus
Friend Jesus took my only friend away

I had a friend who had a friend in Jesus
He used to read the good book every day
But my friend he got so friendly with friend Jesus
Friend Jesus took my only friend away

My feet are smelly and my hair's a mess
My teeth are yellow and I'd got bad breath
I may look great but I feel like death
I'm a refugee

My friend he was as wise as Mr Wise Owl
He could count from 1 to 10, the A to Z
Yes my friend he was so wise he got religion
That's why I'm alive today and he is dead

My friend he was as wise as Mr Wise Owl
He could count from 1 to 10, from A to Z
Yes my friend he was so wise he got religion
That's why I'm alive today and he is dead

Well I love the flowers, love the trees
Love the grasses, love the bees
Love the Byrds on their LPs
And I'm a refugee

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Steve Roberts for the transcription.