Alasdair Roberts
Alasdair Roberts is a Scottish folk musician. He released a number of album… Read Full Bio ↴Alasdair Roberts is a Scottish folk musician. He released a number of albums under the name Appendix Out, and following the 2001 album The Night is Advancing, under his own name. Roberts is noted for both his own compositions and recitations of traditional songs, including on his album of traditional death ballads, No Earthly Man.
Roberts was born in Swabia, Germany, to a German mother and Scottish father, though was raised in Kilmahog, a hamlet close to the small town of Callander, near Stirling in central Scotland, where he started playing the guitar and writing music. In 1994 he adopted the name 'Appendix Out' and started playing small venues. This is where he was discovered by American musician Will Oldham, and a contract with US label Drag City was soon to follow.
After three albums with Appendix Out, Roberts recorded his first solo album, The Crook of My Arm, in 2001. This album consisted almost entirely of solo vocals and guitar in marked contrast to the occasionally experimental sound of the Appendix Out records. All the songs are traditional, and Roberts credited the singers from whose performances he'd learnt the songs (these included his father, Alan Roberts, and Alan's sometime musical partner, Dougie MacLean).
Two further albums of traditional folk songs followed: "No Earthly Man" and "Too Long in This Condition", plus three albums of original songs - "Farewell Sorrow", "The Amber Gatherers" and "Spoils". A fourth album of original songs, A Wonder Working Stone, was released in January 2013.
Each album has a distinct character, and Roberts songwriting has shifted in recent years from the relative economy of "Farewell Sorrow" and "The Amber Gatherers" to a much denser wordplay, filled with allusions to mythology, esoteric spirituality and gnosticism, on "Spoils" and subsequent releases.
Roberts was born in Swabia, Germany, to a German mother and Scottish father, though was raised in Kilmahog, a hamlet close to the small town of Callander, near Stirling in central Scotland, where he started playing the guitar and writing music. In 1994 he adopted the name 'Appendix Out' and started playing small venues. This is where he was discovered by American musician Will Oldham, and a contract with US label Drag City was soon to follow.
After three albums with Appendix Out, Roberts recorded his first solo album, The Crook of My Arm, in 2001. This album consisted almost entirely of solo vocals and guitar in marked contrast to the occasionally experimental sound of the Appendix Out records. All the songs are traditional, and Roberts credited the singers from whose performances he'd learnt the songs (these included his father, Alan Roberts, and Alan's sometime musical partner, Dougie MacLean).
Two further albums of traditional folk songs followed: "No Earthly Man" and "Too Long in This Condition", plus three albums of original songs - "Farewell Sorrow", "The Amber Gatherers" and "Spoils". A fourth album of original songs, A Wonder Working Stone, was released in January 2013.
Each album has a distinct character, and Roberts songwriting has shifted in recent years from the relative economy of "Farewell Sorrow" and "The Amber Gatherers" to a much denser wordplay, filled with allusions to mythology, esoteric spirituality and gnosticism, on "Spoils" and subsequent releases.
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Alasdair Roberts Lyrics
Admiral Cole Brave Admiral Cole he's gone to sea, oh my boys-O Admiral…
As I Came In by Huntly Town As I came in by Huntly Town One morning for to…
Carousing Carousing all the evening and the drinking of the wine, The…
Down Where the Willow Wands Weep I took my only young son, And my only daughter, Down…
Farewell Sorrow Raise me high, raise me high, That I may see my…
Firewater How can I ever know you, how can I ever…
I Am a Young Man I am a young man that's inclined to seek pleasure, Inclined…
I Fell in Love I fell in love with the roll of her drum, Fell…
I Had A Kiss Of The King's Hand I saw him on the strand; he'd been so long…
I Went Hunting I went hunting in the morning, Polly, When the geese were…
Join Our Lusty Chorus Sportsmen, arouse! The morning is clear. The larks are sing…
Lord Gregory I am a poor young girl That's straight from Callander I'm in…
Lord Ronald Oh, where have you been to, Lord Ronald, my son? Oh,…
Molly Bawn Come all you young fathers that handle a gun, Beware of…
On the Banks of Red Roses When I was a wee thing, I heard my mother…
Riddle Me This Show me the power that man cannot harness To turn toward…
Slowly Growing Old What are you doing, soldier bold? Slowly growing old, slowl…
Sweet William Oh Father, Father, come build me a boat, That o'er this…
The Burning of Auchindoun As I came in by Fiddichside on a May morning I…
The Cruel Mother She leaned her back up against the thorn The sun shines…
The Cruel War Before the cruel war was on, I was so strong. Now…
The Daemon Lover 'Where have you been my long, long love These seven long…
The Magpie's Nest Oh if I was the king I would make you the…
The Old Men Of The Shells As I roved out one Shrovetide Eve Among the bramble and…
The Whole House Is Singing I know she rose early, for I heard her sweet…
Waxwing Waxwing, waxwing, what do you bring From the frozen North? …
What put the blood on your right shoulder son migikata ni murasaki chōcho kiss wo shita kono heya no sumi…
When a Man's in Love He Feels No Cold She wore the guise of a winter squall Blowing through my…