The Canterbury scene is largely defined by a set of musicians and bands with intertwined memberships. These are not tied by very strong musical similarities, but a certain whimsicalness, touches of psychedelia, rather abstruse lyrics, and a use of improvisation derived from jazz are common elements in their work.[1] “The real essence of 'Canterbury Sound' is the tension between complicated harmonies, extended improvisations, and the sincere desire to write catchy pop songs.” “In the very best Canterbury music...the musically silly and the musically serious are juxtaposed in an amusing and endearing way.” [3]
There is variation within the scene, for example from pop/rock like early Soft Machine and much Caravan to avant-garde composed pieces as with early National Health to improvised jazz as with later Soft Machine or In Cahoots. Didier Malherbe (of Gong) has defined the scene as having "certain chord changes, in particular the use of minor second chords, certain harmonic combinations, and a great clarity in the aesthetics, and a way of improvising that is very different from what is done in jazz."[
The scene had one main root in the Wilde Flowers, a band formed in 1964 which, at various times, was home to most of the founding musicians of both the Soft Machine and Caravan, bands which in turn provided the musicians of several later bands. The genesis of the Canterbury Sound may, in part, be traced back to 1960, when Australian beatnik Daevid Allen lodged at Robert Wyatt's parents' guest-house in Lydden, ten miles to the south of Canterbury. Allen brought with him an extensive collection of jazz records, a different lifestyle, and the jazz drummer George Niedorf who later taught Wyatt the drums. In 1963, Wyatt, Allen and Hugh Hopper formed the Daevid Allen Trio (in London) which metamorphosised into the Wilde Flowers when Allen left for France. Wyatt, Allen, Kevin Ayers (from the Wilde Flowers) and Mike Ratledge (who had played on occasion with the Daevid Allen Trio) formed Soft Machine in 1966.
Other key early bands were Delivery and Egg, whose members blended into the Canterbury scene in the early 1970s. For example, Phil Miller of Delivery went on to found Matching Mole and Hatfield and the North, the latter with Dave Stewart of Egg. Both were later in National Health, while Steve Hillage, who dropped out of a degree course at the University of Kent at Canterbury, had worked with the members of Egg in a previous band, Uriel, was later in Gong with Allen.
The Canterbury scene is known for having a set of musicians who often rotated into different Canterbury bands. Richard Sinclair, for example, was at different points of his career, in the Wilde Flowers, Camel, Caravan, Hatfield and the North and, briefly, Gilgamesh; he also worked with National Health. His cousin Dave Sinclair was in Caravan, Camel, Matching Mole and, briefly, Hatfield and the North. Robert Wyatt was a member of the Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine, Matching Mole, and also did work as a solo artist. Pip Pyle was in Delivery, Gong, Hatfield and the North, National Health, Soft Heap and In Cahoots. Hugh Hopper was in Soft Machine, Isotope, Stomu Yamash'Ta's band, Soft Heap, In Cahoots and, with Pyle and Allen, Brainville, Hughscore, as well as doing numerous of his own group and solo projects and working with non-Canterbury bands such as Bone.
Other individuals peripheral to the scene but with connections include Mike Oldfield (who played in Kevin Ayers' band), Bill Bruford (briefly drummed in Gong and National Health and employed Dave Stewart in his late 1970s band, Bruford), Allan Holdsworth (who worked with Soft Machine, Gong in their jazz rock period, and the band, Bruford), and Andy Summers (who was briefly a member of Soft Machine, and also worked separately with Kevin Ayers). Similarities to the Canterbury sound are also present among Canadian progressive rock acts of the mid-70's, particularly Opus 5, Sloche and Harmonium.
Bands:
Five bands that were central to the Canterbury scene
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Soft Machine
Caravan
Gong
Hatfield and the North
National Health
Other notable bands in the Canterbury scene
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Camel
Caravan of Dreams
Comus
Delivery
Egg
Gilgamesh
Henry Cow
In Cahoots
Isotope
Khan
Matching Mole
Mashu
Mirage
The Polite Force
Quiet Sun
Soft Heap
Short Wave
The Wilde Flowers
Golf Girl
Caravan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dressed in P.V.C.
I chanced upon a golf girl
Selling cups of tea
She asked me did I want one
Asked me with a grin
For three pence you can buy one
Full right to the brim
So of course I had to have one
In fact I ordered three
So I could watch the golf girl
Could see she fancied me
And later on the golf course
After drinking tea
It started raining golf balls
And she protected me
Her name was Pat
And we sat under a tree
She kissed me
We go for walks
In fine weather
All together
On the golf course
We talk in Morse
The lyrics of the song "Golf Girl" by Caravan are about a man who is standing on a golf course and comes across a girl who is selling cups of tea. He is immediately attracted to her and orders three cups of tea so he can watch her. Soon after, it starts raining golf balls and the girl, whose name is revealed to be Pat, protects him. The two of them start talking and getting to know each other under a tree, and they go for walks together in fine weather. The last line of the song is in Morse code, which adds an interesting layer of complexity to the lyrics.
Overall, "Golf Girl" is a sweet and playful song about an unexpected romance that blossoms on a golf course. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery, from the description of the girl's PVC outfit to the golf balls falling from the sky. The use of Morse code is also a clever touch that adds to the overall feeling of mystery and intrigue.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on a golf course
I was on a golf course
Dressed in P.V.C.
I was wearing a PVC outfit
I chanced upon a golf girl
I met a girl on the golf course
Selling cups of tea
The girl was selling tea
She asked me did I want one
The girl asked if I wanted a cup of tea
Asked me with a grin
She asked me with a smile on her face
For three pence you can buy one
The tea cost three pence
Full right to the brim
The tea cup was full to the brim
So of course I had to have one
I decided to buy the tea
In fact I ordered three
I bought three cups of tea
So I could watch the golf girl
I wanted to watch the girl while I drank tea
Could see she fancied me
I thought the girl was interested in me
And later on the golf course
Later on the golf course
After drinking tea
After drinking tea
It started raining golf balls
Golf balls started falling from the sky
And she protected me
The girl protected me from the falling golf balls
Her name was Pat
The girl's name was Pat
And we sat under a tree
We sat under a tree
She kissed me
Pat kissed me
We go for walks
We go for walks on the golf course
In fine weather
When the weather is good
All together
All of us together
On the golf course
On the golf course
We talk in Morse
We communicate using Morse code
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVE SINCLAIR, PYE HASTINGS, RICHARD COUGHLAN, RICHARD SINCLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martynwilkes4902
In 1972 my girlfriend and I drove to Cadaques in Spain listening to this on a tape,we married,she died 4 years ago.This song makes me cry with memories. We loved this band.😢😢
@stickymoan
Sorry for your loss... What a lovely drive to Spain that must have been. Hang on to those precious memories.
@bindon4
One of the greatest underated bands of all time. Love Caravan.
@bindon4
David Sincalair's keyboard solos are legendary
@FrankyLecostaud
Me too.
In the land of grey and pink is one of my favorite album.
@Warp75
Bare minimums
@PeterPete
Guess you haven't left the campsite 🤣🤣🤣
@twohamburgers
I can't really listen to this song without crying anymore. It's one of my favorite songs of my entire life, but it reminds me to much of a world that is no longer able to exist, especially when it comes to artistry and music.
@dannymalboeuf1692
I understand.
@nestoraliena1296
Tienes toda la razon Hermano!