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Re: Fairport

64.12.106.41

Posted by Mike M. on March 10, 2001 at 17:31:55

In Reply to: Re: Do you stay faithful to your love? posted by Dmitry on March 8, 2001 at 21:19:00:

A few years ago would have been a tamed down, gentle version of Fairport that is but a pale shadow of the adventurous early or even middle years that I am speaking of. I don't remember the years, late 60's, early 70s - but I saw them many times at The Fillmore East - the days of Swarbrick on fiddle, Sandy Denny on vocals, The Daves - Matticks and Pegg, who were the rhythm section then, and may still be. Simon Nicol and even the amazing Richard Thompson. I don't know about songs with the word "lass" in them - these were days of "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin" - wonderful, clever narratives, full of magic. Have you ever treated yourself to a listen to the story of Matty Groves? Here's a sample:

"Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep,
When he awoke Lord Donald, was standing at his feet,
Saying 'How do you like my feather bed, and how do you like my sheets,
How do you like my lady, who lies in your arms asleep?'

'Oh well, I like your feather bed, and well I like your sheets,
but better I like your lady, who lies in my arms asleep'

'Get up! Get up!' Lord Donald cried, 'Get up as quick as you can.
It will never be said in fair England, I slew a naked man.'
'Well I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life,
For you have two long beating swords, and I not a pocket-knife.'

'Well it's true I have two beating swords, and they cost me deep in the purse,
But you will have the better of them, and I will have the worst.
And you will strike the very first blow, and strike it like a man,
And I will strike the very next blow, and I'll kill you if I can.'

So Matty struck the very first blow, and he hurt Lord Donald sore.
Lord Donald struck the very next blow, and Matty struck no more...."

It goes on a bit more, but I guess you had to hear Sandy Denny singing it anyway, with Swarbrick fiddling away like a madman. Fairport endures, but has become a somewhat safe institution, rather than the revolution that first combined English folk songs with the eclectic rock sound of the late 60's.

Remember your own criterion for this thread, Dmitry - you were looking for a divergence - something out of the ordinary for us. A "guilty pleasure" perhaps?

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