Born James Alan Hull in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne on 20th February1945, he became a member of the band The Chosen Few alongside keyboard player Mick Gallagher in 1962. He supported himself one year by working as a nurse at a mental hospital while appearing as a folk singer and guitarist in local clubs before helping to form Brethren and Downtown Faction, which evolved into Lindisfarne in 1970. He also released a one-off solo single, "We Can Swing Together", which was re-recorded with the group on their first album, Nicely Out of Tune, and became a regular favourite in their stage performances.
As the group's most prolific songwriter and joint lead vocalist, Hull came to be regarded as its leader. In 1972, dissatisfied with the sound and critical reception of their third album Dingly Dell, he considered leaving the group, but instead he and joint lead vocalist Ray "Jacka" Jackson formed a new six-piece Lindisfarne the following year, leaving the three other original members to form Jack the Lad. He also released a first solo album, Pipedream, in the same year, and published a book of poems, Mocking Horse.
Lindisfarne disbanded in 1975, and Hull released a second solo album, Squire, then formed the short-lived Radiator, which also included drummer Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne and Jack the Lad. At the end of 1977 the original line-up of Lindisfarne reformed after a well-received Christmas show at the Newcastle City Hall which was broadcast on local radio. Thereafter he combined his musical career as front man of the group with a solo career. He was also a staunch Labour Party activist.
In 1994, he recorded Back to Basics, a live all-acoustic survey of the best of his songwriting from 1970 onwards. On 17th November 1995 whilst working on a new album, Statues & Liberties, Hull died suddenly of a heart thrombosis, at the age of fifty.
Lady Eleanor
Alan Hull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Belly dancing beauty with a power driven saw
Had myself a nightmare,
Didn't think there could be much more
Then in walked Lord Borgaasha with the lady Eleanor
She tied my eyes with a ribbon,
Of a silken gossamer thread
On an old four poster bed
Where Eleanor had risen to kiss the neck below my head,
And made me come along with her to the land of the dancing dead
But its alright lady Eleanor,
Alright lady Eleanor
I'm alright where I am
She gazed with loving beauty,
Like a mother to a son
Like living, dying, seeing,
Being all rolled into one
Then all at once I heard some music,
Playing in my bones
The same old song I'd heard for years,
Reminding me of home
But its alright lady Eleanor,
Alright lady Eleanor
I'm alright where I am
Then creeping on towards me,
Licking lips with tongues of fire
A host of gold and demons,
Screaming lust and ways desired
And when it seemed for certain,
That the screams could get no higher
I heard a voice above the rest,
Screaming you're a liar
But its alright lady Eleanor,
Alright lady Eleanor,
I'm alright here in your arms
The song Lady Eleanor by Alan Hull is a tale of a surreal and ominous experience. The first verse describes a scene where a belly dancing woman performs with a power saw as magicians watch. The singer of the song has a nightmare, and Lord Borgaasha walks in with a woman named Lady Eleanor. The song takes a darker tone as Lady Eleanor ties the singer's eyes with a ribbon and takes him to an old four-poster bed. She kisses his neck, and he follows her to the land of the dancing dead. Despite the ominous tone of the song, the singer seemingly finds solace in Lady Eleanor's embrace and assures her that he's okay.
The second verse describes how Lady Eleanor looks at the singer with loving beauty, almost like a mother to her child, and he hears music reminiscent of home. However, the tone of the song shifts quickly as gold and demons creep towards the singer, screaming lust and desired ways. The screaming reaches its climax, only for a voice to scream above the others, accusing someone of being a liar.
Lady Eleanor leaves much to interpretation as the meaning of the song is left for the listener to decipher. However, it is widely believed that Lady Eleanor is a metaphor for death, and the dance of the dead represents a transition into the great beyond. The song could also be interpreted as a story of temptation and seduction, with Lady Eleanor portraying a temptress luring the singer into a dark and possibly life-threatening situation.
Line by Line Meaning
As she played, magicians seeing all this on the floor,
As Lady Eleanor performed her magical dance, the onlookers were in awe.
Belly dancing beauty with a power driven saw
Lady Eleanor's dance was mesmerizing and even dangerous.
Had myself a nightmare,
The singer was terrified and felt like he was in a nightmare.
Didn't think there could be much more
The artist thought the situation couldn't get any worse.
Then in walked Lord Borgaasha with the lady Eleanor
Lord Borgaasha arrived with Lady Eleanor, adding to the already frightening situation.
She tied my eyes with a ribbon,
Lady Eleanor blinded the singer with a delicate ribbon.
Of a silken gossamer thread
The ribbon was made of a fine, delicate material.
I gaze with troubled vision,
The artist was distressed and uneasy.
On an old four poster bed
Lady Eleanor and the artist were on an antique bed.
Where Eleanor had risen to kiss the neck below my head,
Lady Eleanor kissed the artist's neck.
And made me come along with her to the land of the dancing dead
Lady Eleanor took the singer on a journey to a place where the dead danced.
But its alright lady Eleanor,
Despite the frightening experience, the artist feels comforted by Lady Eleanor.
I'm alright where I am
The singer is content to be with Lady Eleanor.
She gazed with loving beauty,
Lady Eleanor looked at the singer with affection.
Like a mother to a son
Her gaze was nurturing and motherly.
Like living, dying, seeing,
She was everything to the artist - life, death, and sight.
Being all rolled into one
All of these qualities were embodied in Lady Eleanor.
Then all at once I heard some music,
Suddenly, the singer heard music.
Playing in my bones
The music seemed to come from deep within the singer.
The same old song I'd heard for years,
The music was familiar, something the artist had known for a long time.
Reminding me of home
The song brought the artist back to a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Then creeping on towards me,
Something else began to approach the artist.
Licking lips with tongues of fire
The thing that approached the singer looked dangerous, with a fiery tongue.
A host of gold and demons,
The artist was surrounded by a group of demons, who shone like gold.
Screaming lust and ways desired
The demons were screaming in ecstasy and desire.
And when it seemed for certain,
The situation became even more intense.
That the screams could get no higher
The screams and chaos reached a frenzied peak.
I heard a voice above the rest,
Above the noise, the artist heard a clear voice.
Screaming you're a liar
The voice accused the artist of lying.
But its alright lady Eleanor,
Despite the chaos around him, the singer finds comfort in Lady Eleanor.
Alright lady Eleanor
The singer reassures Lady Eleanor that he is okay.
I'm alright here in your arms
The artist feels safe and content in Lady Eleanor's embrace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES ALAN HULL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind