Albert Lancaster Lloyd (29 February 1908- 29 September 1982), usually known… Read Full Bio ↴Albert Lancaster Lloyd (29 February 1908- 29 September 1982), usually known as A. L. Lloyd or Bert Lloyd, was an English folk singer and collector of folk songs, and as such was a key figure in the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s.

Lloyd recorded many albums of English folk music, most notably several albums of the Child Ballads with Ewan MacColl. He also published many books on folk music and related topics, including The Singing Englishman, Come All Ye Bold Miners, and Folk Song in England. He was a founder-member of Topic Records and remained as their artistic director until his death. He died at his home in Greenwich in 1982.

While Lloyd is most widely known for his work with British folk music, he had a keen interest in the music of Spain, Latin America, Southeastern Europe and Australia (he recorded at least 6 discs of Australian Bush Ballads and folk music).

One May Morning
A.L. Lloyd Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the answer you are looking for is all around you am I drowning deep?
I feel like somebody's taking me sometimes not right who cares

歩き、這い、登り、落ち、これまでのLifeでその意味を見つけ
Meets him 流れに捕らわれ Meets her 心の葛藤に in pain

Am I alone, don't know what to do
Tell me am I alive am I really free?

Am I alone, don't know where to go
So, tell me am I alive am I really free?

You gotta stand now, so do it for your life
Fight and fight and fight for your life
Stand now, so do it for your life
Fight and fight and fight for your life

May I be happy fprever, ever and ever
生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life

So what's up? you feel alive or do you feel dead
Life is just like a real simple game
So think fast, your wasting your time so what the fuck are you really gonna do?
You gotta get it going a brand now day
The sun will shine open your mind the answer in there
keep moving on and on and you will see the mother fuckin light

Am I alone, don't know what to do
Tell me am I alive am I really free?
Am I alone, don't know where to go
So, tell me am I alive am I really free?

You gotta stand now, so do it for your life
Fight and fight and fight for your life
Stand now, so do it for your life
Fight and fight and fight for your life

May I be happy fprever, ever and ever
生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life

May I be happy fprever, ever and ever
生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life

May I be happy fprever, ever and ever
生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to A.L. Lloyd's song "One May Morning" convey a sense of existential questioning and an exploration of personal freedom and purpose. The opening lines reflect a feeling of being surrounded by answers yet feeling lost and overwhelmed, questioning whether one is sinking in deep waters. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling overwhelmed by the complexities and challenges of life.

The following lines depict a search for meaning and identity, with the singer reflecting on their journey through life, experiencing both moments of being caught up in the current and feeling conflicted within their own emotions. The struggle between external forces and inner turmoil is evident.

The chorus highlights a profound sense of confusion and uncertainty, with the singer feeling alone and lost, not knowing what to do or where to go. They seek assurance about their existence and freedom, yearning for validation that they are truly alive and not just going through the motions.

The subsequent verses continue with a sense of urgency and a call to action. The lyrics urge the listener to stand up and fight for their life, emphasizing the importance of taking control and not wasting time. The reference to a simple game suggests that life is complex yet can be approached strategically.

The bridge brings a desire for eternal happiness and a rebirth. The repetition of the phrase "May I be happy forever, ever and ever, 生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life" suggests a belief in the possibility of transforming oneself and seeking eternal contentment.

Overall, "One May Morning" reflects themes of searching for meaning, grappling with internal and external challenges, and striving for personal freedom and happiness.

Line by Line Meaning

When the answer you are looking for is all around you am I drowning deep?
Amidst the abundance of possibilities and options, am I feeling overwhelmed and struggling to find my way?

I feel like somebody's taking me sometimes not right who cares
Sometimes, I sense that external forces are exerting control over me, leading me astray, but ultimately, it doesn't matter.

歩き、這い、登り、落ち、これまでのLifeでその意味を見つけ
Through walking, crawling, climbing, falling, and reflecting on my past experiences, I seek to discover the true meaning of life.

Meets him 流れに捕らわれ Meets her 心の葛藤に in pain
Encountering different individuals trapped in the current of life or struggling with internal conflicts, I empathize with their pain.

Am I alone, don't know what to do
Feeling uncertain and isolated, I lack clarity on the appropriate course of action.

Tell me am I alive am I really free?
Please assure me if I am truly living and experiencing authentic freedom.

So, tell me am I alive am I really free?
Therefore, I implore you once again, confirm whether I am genuinely alive and liberated.

You gotta stand now, so do it for your life
It is essential to stand up and persevere, as our lives depend on it.

Fight and fight and fight for your life
Engage in a continuous battle, giving your utmost effort to protect your existence.

So do it for your life
Therefore, perform the necessary actions to safeguard your well-being and survival.

May I be happy fprever, ever and ever
May I attain eternal happiness, lasting forever and ever.

生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life
I am in the process of being reborn; this is my life.

So what's up? you feel alive or do you feel dead
Now, let me ask: do you sense vitality and vitality within you, or do you feel lifeless and devoid of energy?

Life is just like a real simple game
Life can be compared to a straightforward game, with its own rules and challenges.

So think fast, your wasting your time so what the fuck are you really gonna do?
Hence, act quickly, as dwelling on futile matters only squanders your precious time. What meaningful actions will you truly undertake?

You gotta get it going a brand now day
You must initiate and propel yourself toward a completely new day.

The sun will shine open your mind the answer in there
The radiant sun will illuminate your mind, revealing the answer you seek.

keep moving on and on and you will see the mother fuckin light
Persistently continue your journey, and eventually, you will witness the undeniable brilliance of enlightenment.

May I be happy fprever, ever and ever
May I attain eternal happiness, lasting forever and ever.

生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life
I am in the process of being reborn; this is my life.

May I be happy fprever, ever and ever
May I attain eternal happiness, lasting forever and ever.

生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life
I am in the process of being reborn; this is my life.

May I be happy fprever, ever and ever
May I attain eternal happiness, lasting forever and ever.

生まれ変わろうとしてる it is my life
I am in the process of being reborn; this is my life.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Oshio Manabu

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@thecritic6998

36w↑4

I was looking for English drinking songs to rival our neighbours the Scots, Welsh, and Irish. I found more than I was looking for with this collection. Drink, the fun it brings, but the cost isn't hidden either. Briliant

@judithosterman9792

46w↑3

A.L. Lloyd, sorely missed.

@Thonolan000

2y↑3

Fantastic album...I just love this kind of music.

@redquoter

3y↑14

Came from the Lighthouse, stayed for the music.

@Moralltach

8y↑29

Fantastic! It's great to see someone with a great sense of music and tradition.

@JFGryphonNYC

5y↑9

Great to hear AL Lloyd

@mandolindleyroadshow706

14w

1956 must have been a busy year for A.L. He also arranged the sea shanties for the film, Moby Dick.

@johnstevenson1709

3y↑3

The butcher and the barmaid is almost the same as the Christmas goose we sing round Sheffield at Christmas

@smokeybreen4104

7y↑11

Now this is real singing wow loved it

@sheilamckenna9448

2y↑6

More English folk songs please

@christophertull7787

4y↑5

wow amazing

@charlesbowman1852

6y↑4

I still have this album, same artwork on the cover

@MalquiLans

5y↑2

This was adapted for a 'rugby song'. The Ram of Derbyshire had 2 horns of brass, "1 grew out if his head, sir, and 1 grew out of his" - for example.

@ludwigritter2455

4y↑15

I'll make a boy into man, a man into an ass
I'll change your gold to silver, lads, and your silver into brass
I'll make the huntsman hunt the fox with never a hound or horn
I'll bring the tinker into jail says old John Barleycorn

@RobertoPoncebk

1y↑1

Thanks, because... "The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs" (1973) by Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L. Lloyd includes five stanzas of the lyrics but they fits more in the Traffic album version and do not include the last sung here.

@richardstarr407

7w↑1

I've always loved these lines. These two A.L.lloyd lps are treasures! The other is Sea songs and Shanties. None better.

@reddwing4368

3y↑3

Could juat be AL s
Singing but this rivals the Irish foggy few song
Beautiful songs

@mjm5899

1y↑1

Muito foda

@elliot2773

3y↑4

WHY WOULD YOU SPILL YER BEAMS?

@williedynamyte

3y↑5

You're fond of me Lobster, ain't ye?

@TimPoston

7y↑5

Rosin the bow (bow of a fiddle, on which you put rosin -- a kind of resin), not 'beau'.

@Verseucht

7y↑3

There is an older version of this folk song called "Rosin the Bow", but it has different lyrics, so they probably went with the standard title for this version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Rosin_the_Beau

@TimPoston

So the mistake is an old one.

@Verseucht

7y↑4

Maybe a mistake, but it could also be just a parody, since "Rosin the beau" can be read as "Rosin, the handsome".

@TimPoston

7y↑3

Possible: but these lyrics are not otherwise a parody, and in the oral tradition (which causes so much of the variation of folk song) there is no difference in sound. My guess remains that somebody literate who didn't know a fiddle from a spinning wheel transcribed it wrong.

Compare how "I sold my rock, I sold my reel, I sold my only spinning wheel" was changed to "I sold my rack . . ." by a collector who didn't know a 'rock' was a distaff.

@Sauvenil

7y↑1

Listen to the lyrics.... he's clearly singing about a man. "Drink to a Rosin the Beau"... "Just lift the lid of me coffin and have a last look at Rosin the Beau" ... These lyrics are not otherwise a parody, but they have nothing to do with a fiddle or a spinning wheel.

3 More Replies...

@STARWARSvagi

5y↑32

The chat is full of grandpas.
I'm 20 years old.
Must be on the wrong side of the internet.

@Ssssssnakeisone

4y↑23

*right side

@Ssssssnakeisone

4y↑10

@Kahinur Nessa Ok future boomer

@nozecone

4y↑2

Go tell yer mother she wants you, ya young whippersnapper!

@xandercorp6175

3y↑8

It's a weird unnatural modern invention that young and old must never mix.

@oopsadaze

2y↑1

Better you stay in your Comfort Zone

@illyboulder2557

6y↑1

What are The Differences Between British music and English music.

@gabagool20

4y↑5

Britian is Wales, Scotland, and England united into one country. The United Kingdom is Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. They have certain Scottish music and welsh music but music derived from different parts of Britain

@seronymus

2y↑1

On a more cultural-anthropological level too, English folk will be more "purely" Saxon/Germanic than Celtic in origin compared to Welsh, Cornish or Scottish music.

@seronymus

@@rolandscales9380 You seem to very educated on folk music, it's an honor to meet you. :) Well firstly I think that in these discussions, the technical structure - the "rebar" and concrete of the building as it were - only plays an ancillary role in distinguishing cultural "flavor". I actually am very close with a woman from Yorkshire and she sees bagpipes as quintessentially Scottish and doesn't like being compared to them? She has a very Nordic phenotype with only marginal Celtic admixture. Anyway, for Galician I mean that part of Spain DOES have much ancient Celtic influence and idk how much influence there is in that, and how old. Overall, I AM American and we associate "Celtic" most especially with a sort of "mystical" almost New Age-y feeling. Like as naturally tribal as a white person can get without claiming to be Native American mixed. Germanic music i believe inherently is more "pure" and "bold", less whimsical instruments (note stereotypical German music w/ accordion is from the South, and many Bavarians are essentially Mediterraneans that got lost in mountains ages ago. Prussian tunes definitely sound more Nordic, stoic, hardy, etc).... I'll stop rambling. It's like that judge said when determining what is Porn: "I know it when I see it". Folkways are extremely complex with deep roots, like a cocktail you can extract literally thousands of compounds from.