Jim Maclaine's "Dea Sancta et Gloria"

'A Daisy Chain of Buttercups'

"A 'lover's lament' of sorts from Jim to his ex-wife, 'Jeanette' - who is the mother of his child ('Jimmy'). She is also the sister of his former best friend, Terry Sutcliffe. The song illustrates some of their early places of dating such as picnics in the local park and visits to the roller-skating rink in their "small town". Jim recollects that Jeanette used to make daisy chains whilst visiting the park, but this song expands upon the 'flower' theme and references one of Jim's poems in the final line here as featured in the film of "That'll be the Day" . There is an occurrence of an echo of some of the words in some of the verses which is a deliberate take on 'echoing from the past' and those occurrences which had gone before  - just like their relationship. Jim didn't hate Jeanette and I think he admired her more than anybody - especially for bringing up his son under very difficult circumstances when he left them and subsequently during his transformation to worldwide rock phenomenon. Furthermore, this would have been the only way he could have expressed his true feelings - in the form of a song. And, just maybe, he kept the meaning behind it relatively quiet from 'Danielle' - his girlfriend at the time of its creation..." - writer/lyricist, Tony G. Marshall. (The lyrics unfold over 2 pages below...)

You were the sweetest smelling flower, picked from a small town bed

Your cheeks were like the roses that blossomed in the dew

My heart had been captured by the sight of you skating…falling down…skating

So amidst the daisies we danced with the nettles so close to our feet

A daisy chain I made you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Never curdling, never crying, curdling, crying.

A daisy chain I gave you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Always sipping, always tasting, sipping, tasting.

You had the cutest telling smile, which lit up any small town room

You appeared to be fragile but yet so strong and new

My heart had been captured by the sight of you staring…and wondering…staring

So amidst the daisies we danced with the nettles so close to our feet

A daisy chain I made you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Never curdling, never crying, curdling, crying.

A daisy chain I gave you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Always sipping, always tasting, sipping, tasting.

You had the softest touching hair, which flowed in the small town wind

Your laugh was a gentle giggle that amused my senses true

My heart had been captured by the sight of you holding…just loving…holding

So amidst the daisies we danced with the nettles so close to our feet

A daisy chain I made you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Never curdling, never crying, curdling, crying.

A daisy chain I gave you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Always sipping, always tasting, sipping, tasting.

You had the kindest loving heart, which beat through the small town mind

You shared your excitement on the day that you knew

My heart had been captured by the sight of you growing…just glowing…growing

So amidst the daisies we danced with the nettles so close to our feet

A daisy chain I made you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Never curdling, never crying, curdling, crying.

A daisy chain I gave you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Always sipping, always tasting, sipping, tasting.

You held the greatest bundle of joy that ever graced a small town bed

You were the Mother of a baby whose clothes were blue

My heart had been captured by the sight of you cradling…feeding…cradling

So amidst the daisies we danced with the nettles so close to our feet

A daisy chain I made you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Never curdling, never crying, never, never.

A daisy chain I gave you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

Always sipping, always tasting, always, always.

You were a loving wife and mother, who graced the small town streets

I tried to be true and new but knew how blue I was too

The daisy chain I made, I weaved around your toes…just weaving…around your toes

So amidst the daisies we danced with the nettles so close to our feet

A daisy chain I made you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

But the wine curdled from too much cream.

A daisy chain I gave you whilst we drank our buttercup wine

And now the chains have turned me crazy…and I’m leaving before the nettles get us…Daisy…Daisy… 

Title & Lyrics by Tony G. Marshall Copyright ©2008/Reference to text written by Ray Connolly Copyright ©1973.