Sydney Carter

Carter (1915-2004) was an English poet, songwriter & folk musician. 

He worked closely as a lyricist with Donald Swann (of Flanders & Swann) for his revues and musicals. He also composed 6 songs for Swann's 1964 album "Songs of Faith & Doubt".

Carter was a life-long pacifist and conscientious objector during World War II, serving with the Friends Ambulance Unit in Egypt, Palestine & Greece, Some people assume he was a Quaker because he wrote the well-known "George Fox Song" about the 17th century founder of Quakers. He was actualy an active member of the Church of England and gave strong support to the church's social mission as reflected in his song "When I Needed a Neighbor".

In 1981 a group of leading British folk musicians recorded a tribute album called "Lovely in the Dances" with tracks by John Kirkpatrick, Maddy Pryor, SHuSHa & Robert Johnson.

Obituary in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/mar/17/guardianobituaries.religion

Discography on Mainly NorFolk: https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/records/sydneycarter.html

Many of Carter's songs appear on a 1981 album "Lovely in the Dance: Songs of Sydney Carter", which was released later on CD and featured many other leading English folk musicians.