Graeme Miles, from the North East of England, wrote this song, My Eldorado in circa or about 1959. It contains the most vivid images,especially in verse three, and each time I sing it these images come to life. I believe that the third verse is one of the ‘finest verses’ ever written. I can almost guarantee that you will hear a Graeme Miles song sung in a folk club during the evening.On a tour of America quite a few years ago,arranged by my agent at that time Mike Dinsmore, he sorted out a booking in a small country town in the state of Kansas,called Eldorado. They did not have a folk club as such but were happy to put on a concert,and I was happy as I could then find My Eldorado.
I finished the concert with the song and I was presented with the town flag which is now a family treasure.
Robin Dale and the wonderful Wilson Family have been singing Graeme’s songs for many years and Annie Miles has kept the archive of Graeme’s songs as a legacy for Graeme, enough said.
Martyn
My Eldorado Written by Graeme Miles.
I had my hopes as we all have hopes
All for what I’d be and for what I’d do
But as my hopes soon bloomed and faded
So all my dreams they vanished too.
Chorus
I never found my El Dorado
Never walked down silver sands
Never saw those Gold Pagodas
Nor held a sunrise in my hand
But I just dream and dream and dream
And I just dream and dream and dream.
I was just a kid just a mucky kid
And I held the world in my grubby hands
But then the world just turned to water
And ran through my fingers onto the sand.
Chorus.
The terraced streets were my Grand Canyon
The ship yard cranes were my red wood trees
The steel works tips were my mountain ranges
And the brick yard ponds were my seven seas.
Chorus
The public bar was full of sailors
They laughed they sang they told their tales
But I soon found the darkest corner
Put down my glass then walked away
Chorus
I never found my El Dorado
Never walked down silver sands
Never saw those Gold Pagodas
Nor held a sunrise in my hand
But I just dream and dream and dream
And I just dream and dream and dream
And I just dream another dream.