Henry's Songbook

The January man he walks abroad in woollen coat and boots of leather
The February man still wipes the snow from off his hair and blows his hands
The man of March he sees the spring and wonders what the year will bring
And hopes for better weather

Through April rain the man goes down to watch the birds come in to share the summer
The man of May stands very still watching the children dance away the day
In June the man inside the man is young and wants to lend a hand
And grins at each newcomer

And in July the man in cotton shirt he sits and thinks on being idle
The August man in thousands take the road and watch the sea and find the sun
September man is standing near to saddle up and leave the year
And autumn is his bridle

And the man of new October takes the reins and early frost is on his shoulder
The poor November man sees fire and wind and mist and rain and winter air
December man looks through the snow to let eleven brothers know
They're all a little older

And the January man comes round again in woollen coat and boots of leather
To take another turn and walk along the icy road he knows so well
The January man is here for starting off each and every year
Along the way forever

[1979:] 'January Man' was immediately accepted as one of the outstanding songs written during the Revival period. It is, indeed, a remarkable song, written specifically for unaccompanied singing and lyrically so accomplished that it is now taught in schools as a poem. (Woods, Revival 113f.)

[1988:] A year in the life of ... as mirrored by the poetic pen of Dave Goulder. (Notes Iain MacKintosh, 'Gentle Persuasion')

[1992:] I know that Dave Goulder was insistent that people should sing January Man the way he wrote it - "If I had wanted people to sing 'smiles at each newcomer', I'd have written that instead of 'grins at each newcomer'." (Imlach, Reminiscences 167)