Come Away Melinda

By Bernie Bell

Having read Fiona MacInnes response to the exhibition by Robinson RR at the Loft Gallery, St. Margaret’s Hope https://theorkneynews.scot/2022/04/28/a-view-from-orkney-beautiful-lies-and-ugly-truths-by-robinson-rr/ and how her piece resurrected the image of the little boy, dead on the beach. This song won’t leave my head –

Daddy, daddy, come and look
See what I have found
A little ways away from here
While digging in the ground

Come away, Melinda
Come in and close the door
It’s nothing, just a picture-book
They had before the war

Daddy, daddy, come and see
Daddy, come and look
Why there’s four or five
Little Melinda girls
Inside my picture book

Come away, Melinda
Come in and close the door
There were lots of little girls like you
Before they had the war

Oh daddy, daddy, come and see
Daddy, hurry do
Why, there’s someone in a pretty dress
She’s all grown up like you
Won’t you tell me, why?

Come away, Melinda
Come in and close the door
That someone is your mummy
You had before the war

Daddy, daddy, tell me if you can
Why can’t things be
The way they were
Before the war began?

Come away, Melinda
Come in and close the door
The answer lies in yesterday
Before they had the war

Songwriters: Hellerman / Minkoff