Tar Barrels

Come you good people, come gather around
And I'll tell you a tale of an old Devon town
A story of barrels and tar burning bright
The strangest of times every Bonfire Night

You're here at your own risk so the signs say
Why do they do it, why on this day?
A sense of tradition or a strange sense of fun?
Or just glad to be part of the Tar Barrel run?

It starts with the cannons, how loud they all sound
What happens next is sure to astound
Then up step the children how proud they all are
Of their age-old tradition of barrels and tar

A burning barrel tied to your back
Your only protection a bit of old sack
Friends and family look on in awe
As the famous tar barrels are run once more

They come In their thousands from far and near
To witness the fun and have the odd beer
Of the flaming barrels you need to be wary
On the fifth of November in Ottery St Mary

There's a fair, and a bonfire for you to admire
But most are here for the barrels and fire
As the night goes on the barrels get larger
And the crowd swells and cheers grow louder

Now midnight has passed and the last barrel's run
It's finished this year and the crowd's now gone
We'll be counting the days until we return
To witness again the tar barrels burn

Come you good people, come gather around
And I'll tell you a tale of an old Devon town
A story of barrels and tar burning bright
The strangest of times every Bonfire Night
The strangest of times every Bonfire Night