Over the course of the next twenty years I worked on and off on the Roy Harper Lyric Book. My idea was to feature the Harper lyrics on one page and opposite have photos, explanation, anecdotes and gig talk to illustrate.
A lot of the lyrics were autobiographical so the story could come out through the songs.
I went to visit in Brixton and then in Spilsby in Lincolnshire, where he had moved to in order to escape the traffic congestion of the city, and finally to Ireland where he had set himself up with a house and studio.
We recorded tape after tape and I have thirty C90 tapes full.
Making the transcripts was slow and painful. I had to press play, type with my one finger, and rewind. It took forever.
I started patching things together and the project grew into four volumes. I had the finished article and gave it to Roy. He was happy with it. He called me up on stage and presented me with it, introducing me to the crowd and telling them it would soon be out. I did extracts in the Roy Harper magazine Hors D’ Oeuvres.
It was going well. There was a final visit to Ireland to tidy up ends. We had a few disagreements about including some of the lesser songs and flow charts.
Then it went wrong. Roy decided it wasn’t right. He pulled it and produced his own book of lyrics.
I was stunned. I’d had twenty years working on it. I had hopes of it being a springboard to get my other writing out there.
I threw it in my crowded bottom drawer and moved on.
I am sorry, surprised, and disappointed to hear this, Opher. I was really hoping to read a great bio. on Roy, and there is no doubt you would have produced a good one. I can understand Roy’s reluctance about putting personal things out there while certain people were still living. It just tells me he was thoughtful enough to consider the feelings of others, but at the same time, you must have felt a bit chuffed. All in all, we love Roy, and wish nothing but the best for him! He is still, in my humble opinion, a true, living legend who never received all the accolades he so richly deserves! Hat’s off to Harper!
I agree. We have to put things behind us and move on. We’re still mates and I still think he’d Britain’s greatest songwriter. Nobody has come near to producing the scope and range of songs like McGoohan’s Blues, I Hate the Whiteman, Me and My Woman, The Lord’s Prayer, Burn the World or the Game. He’s created a whole string of them – utterly incredible. I consider myself privileged to have known him all these years – even so – it was devastating for me when the book was pulled.