Song Lyric Sunday: Open Road And A Hungry Heart

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For SLS this week Jim has invited us to play something by our favourite band, as he tells us in his post Interest In Music. What to choose? I have been listening to music for well over sixty years so I have accumulated a great many favourites in that time. There are the obvious ones, such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Moody Blues etc, but also many others that may be less well known, and it is one of those that I am featuring. I have all of their albums, have seen them in concert a few times, and theirs are always the records I choose to play when I’m not sure what I want to hear. I think that qualifies them!

If you have been with me a while you may recognise them, as I have played them several times before – all three of today’s tunes have been here already! They are Oysterband, who are usually described as a folk-rock outfit, though in their earlier days they were also known as folk-punk, given the number of protest songs they wrote and recorded. They were formed in 1976 in Canterbury and took their name from the thriving oyster trade in Whitstable on the north Kent coast, not far away. They began life as the Whitstable Oyster Co. Ceilidh Band – which neatly sums up their origins – and have transitioned through being The Oyster Band into their current name, which has been with them since about 1990. When they started they had several members in common with a band by the name of Fiddler’s Dram, who British readers may recall from their novelty hit The Day We Went To Bangor – “didn’t we have a luvverly time…” – a UK #3 in 1980. Three of the band have been with them since the beginning – John Jones (lead vocals, melodeon), Alan Prosser (guitars and violin) and Ian Telfer (violin, concertina and saxophone). The rest of the current lineup includes Adrian Oxaal on cello, electric and bass guitars, Al Scott, on bass guitar and mandolin, and Sean Randle on drums and percussion. All of them contribute to vocals, too.

This is one of my favourites of their songs, which is why I’m leading with it:

And here are the lyrics:

There’s a glimpse of light through the window pane
Early sun through the pouring rain
This ancient house is getting me down
These brooding hills are gathering round

And I’ll take you with me if you’ve got the trust
Just say you will, I cannot say you must
For the angels left here long ago
And the spirit of dust just says
Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah
Now go

We’ll meet on the shores of Tal-y-llyn
Shield our bodies from the careless wind
We’ll burn our boats for our first screen kiss
It’ll be mid-morning before we’re missed

And we’ll say goodbye to the lights and cries
Now the laughter’s gone from their tired eyes
For the angels left here long ago
And the spirit of dust just says
Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah

And we’ll say goodbye to the lights and cries
To the narrow gaze of their tired eyes
For love of fire and burning skies
And I’ll take you with me
I’ll take you with me
I’ll take you with me

Together on a journey that knows no end
A brand new start around every bend
Together on a journey that needs no chart
Just the open road and a hungry heart

And I’ll take you with me if you’ve got the trust
Just say you will, I cannot say you must
For the angels left here long ago
And the spirit of dust just says
Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah

Now go

I first played Spirit Of Dust in a Tuesday Tunes post four years ago this week, for a theme of ‘growing up.’ It is a song about growing up to the point where the life you’ve known no longer gives you all that you need, and was a good fit that week. I’ve played it a couple of times since then, so you may possibly have heard it before, but no apologies: I love the song and just about everything Oysterband do. They have been a major feature of the English folk music scene for more than forty years, and are also very popular throughout Europe but have, as far as I know, never achieved much in the US – you guys have really missed out! Spirit Of Dust was a track on their Diamonds On The Water album, released in 2014. I don’t think the Oysters have ever dented the charts, here or anywhere else, but their gigs are always sold out and they are a brilliant live band. The female singer on that one is Rowan Godel, who wasn’t a band member but occasionally lent her powerful vocals to their songs, as well as having her own band. The counterbalance between the two voices really makes this one for me. Sadly, Rowan passed at the age of just 50 in February 2022, which makes this one especially poignant.

The second of my repeat plays is one that always cheers me up when I play it:

I first played When I’m Up I Can’t Get Down in July 2021, and again in February this year. The band has recorded two versions of this song. It originally appeared on their 1993 album Holy Bandits, and was then one of the songs they re-recorded in acoustic versions on The Oxford Girl And Other Stories, which was released in 2008. This is the promotional video they made for the second version, and I think it is superb. I just love it when the pub landlady is singing along, too! I’ve often said that one of the things I believe makes music special is its ability to bring us joy: this video proves my case, I think. This song was covered by the Newfoundland folk-rock band Great Big Sea, who had a #6 hit with it in Canada in 1997. It’s not bad – it is a great song, after all – but I prefer the Oysters: both versions.

Today’s final song goes right back to the band’s first decade, with a promotional video shot in the city that gives it the title – sadly that city isn’t quite the same now, thanks to 9/11:

That video is a little grainy but it simply exudes joy and happiness, which suits the song so well. Fittingly, as you can see, it brought some amusement and bemusement to the locals, thanks in no small part to the contributions from The New York Ukranian Community Polka Club, Ira Bernstein step dancing team, the crew of an ocean racer (who were later arrested), a stray dog and several more. It is one of my favourite videos of the band as it is what music is all about for me. I first heard New York Girls when Steeleye Span released a version on their album Commoners Crown in 1975, with a guest appearance on ukulele and Goons voice by Peter Sellers – I kid you not! It is a traditional song which has been recorded several times, and another of my favourite folk bands – Bellowhead – released a version on their album Hedonism in October 2010. It is the same tune but they all bring their own style (and lyric variations) to it, and I like them all.

Having had my mini-rant on Thursday about people making disparaging comments about folk music (in Telling A Story) I’m further redressing the balance today. I hope you’ve enjoyed this selection – if you have and it has encouraged you to seek out one of their shows you’ll need to be quick: they are currently engaged on a whole series of gigs across the UK and Europe as part of their retirement from touring after 45 years. They call it ‘A Long Long Goodbye.’

See you again on Tuesday? 🎶

 

48 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday: Open Road And A Hungry Heart”

  1. Pingback: My August | Take It Easy

    • Thank you, Janet, I’m pleased you enjoyed these and are saving the post. They are a happy collection, aren’t they. If you don’t know the Steeleye Span version of New York Girls I can recommend it: Peter Sellers plays a mean ukulele!

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  5. I like these songs and this band. I have heard the one where they are sitting around a table. Very good, and I like the last one a lot too. Looks like everyone was having a good old time there in the street. 🙂

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  10. I am late to the party today ….Great choice Clive this group is brilliant and I can easily see why you like them so…. When I’m Up is and out and out favourite for me….why no idea because everything they do is great 😃

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  12. Not what I was expecting but that’s not surprising! 😂 Yes, that qualifies as a Yogi-ism! 🤣
    I’ve been with you for a while and I can’t say I recall seeing Oysterband on your previous posts; however, “When I’m Up” has a very familiar look to it.
    “Spirit of Dust” was my fave today. As always, a very entertaining and informative post, Clive. Thanks! 😊

    PS – I went with the Beatles, of course; I guess that makes me (or my choice) ‘obvious’! 😉 😁

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    • So what were you expecting? I think the most recent play for one of their songs was early this year, but they make regular appearances. When I’m Up was that most recent one, so maybe you have a vague recollection? Spirit Of Dust is a great song, which I considered for last week’s theme but decided it would be better for today.

      The Beatles would have been an obvious choice for me – no aspersions cast at anyone, such as your good self, who went with them 😊

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      • What was I expecting? Good question; I’d say one of the many wonderful female folk singers you’ve written about or perhaps even the Kinks.

        I knew exactly what you meant about the Beatles being an obvious choice. I was just pulling your leg a bit. Didn’t you feel it? 😉 🦵🏼

        BTW I have ‘The Repair Shop’ on my watch list and plan to tune in tonight.

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      • You’re right, I could have gone for those, but as I’d played two of them recently I just went straight for my biggest favourites.

        I know you were, just wanted to let you know it wasn’t aimed at you. If I’m honest, I was thinking you might play them.

        Hope you like The Repair Shop. It’s warm, cosy tv, ideal for a Sunday evening. Have the tissues ready – you may need them 😉

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  13. Pingback: Song Lyric Sunday. Come One Mother. – willowdot21

    • It was a good fit for them, wasn’t it. I still prefer the original and this acoustic version, but GBS did a fair job with it. I’ve seen videos on YouTube of the two bands playing it together, which were fun.

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