As I said when I first posted about these guys in 2010 (yipes!):
What we wanted was chain lightning
What we wanted was 8 miles high
What we wanted was free fallin' and our turn to fly
What we wanted was more fireworks
Everlasting 4th of July
What we wanted was more stars in a bluer sky
All we wanted was something worth it
Worth the labour, worth the wait
Then they take you up to the mountain
And you see too late...
In the middle of a good time
Truth gave me her icy kiss
Look around, you must be joking
All that way, all that way for this?
That's about as close to actual poetry as pop music gets or should get; certainly, it sums up the whole cosmic dilemma of life thing as well as any song I can remember off the top of my head. Not to mention the band absolutely kills in a Celtic modal rave-up sort of way.
I'll stand by that description, although I must add in sadness that when I decided to revisit the song the other day, I (as today's youngs put it) did the research. And found that, while they remain active, Oysterband officially retired from touring just last August. A pretty good run by any standards, obviously.
In any case, you can hear more of their music, and keep abreast of their post-retirement musical activities, over at their official website HERE.
Tá fáilte mhór romhat. That's Irish for "you're welcome very much," in case you were wondering. 😎
5 comments:
That’s a fine tune from a very good band. I especially like their work with June Tabor, such as this VU cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxyD8zKbxFY
- Paul in DK
Best. Band. Ever.
I thought I was the only one on this side of the ocean who had heard of them; nice to learn that this wasn't the case.
For those new to the band, I'd suggest 'The Shouting End Of Life' as a good point of entry. It's their 'angry political' album, expressing beliefs which would appear to fit right in here with the majority of folks who visit this site. Subsequent albums dial back their politics, and 'Trawler' is a nice introduction to their earlier folk-y years.
Just wow. This might be the best VU cover ever. Great rhythm track- and her voice!
Not the only one on this side of the pond, as Deserters, Ride, Wide Blue Yonder and Freedom And Rain (with the aforementioned June Tabor, the release what featured the aforementioned VU cover, and an album cover photo that gives you a sense of its unpleasant ambience at the time of the shoot) all graced my CD player.
C in California
And cover of folk singer Si Kahn's "Mississippi Summer". Worth a listen.
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