Briggs was born in Toton, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 29 September 1944. Her mother died of tuberculosis when she was young. Her father, Albert, was severely injured in World War II and she was raised by her Aunt Hilda and Uncle Bill in Toton, who also brought up Hilda's youngest sister, Beryl, and their own daughter Betty. In 1959 she cycled with a friend to Edinburgh. They stayed overnight with Archie Fisher, who was at that time prominent in the revival of folk music in Scotland, and through him she met Bert Jansch, who had just begun to compose his own songs. Jansch and Briggs had an instant rapport and were to remain influential on one another for several years.
In 1962, the Trades Union Congress passed Resolution 42, a resolution to develop cultural activities outside of London. To implement this resolution, playwright Arnold Wesker was appointed as the leader, with Ewan MacColl and A.L. "Bert" Lloyd heavily involved, and Charles Parker on production. Calling themselves Centre 42, they organised a tour around the Britain, hoping to involve local talent at each stop.
At Nottingham, MacColl heard Briggs singing "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme" and "She Moves Through the Fair" and promptly invited her to perform on stage that night. She became a full member of the tour and recorded the same two songs on an album recorded live in Edinburgh later that year. Briggs decided to leave home, just four weeks short of her eighteenth birthday. Centre 42 gave her an administrative job in their offices, liaising with theatres and galleries. She soon acquired the contacts she needed to pursue her own musical career.
Jansch described her as "one of the most underrated singers". He recorded Briggs' songs (including "Go your way, my love" and "Wishing well") on four of his albums. She was also his source for several of the traditional songs which he recorded, including "Blackwaterside". Jansch's instrumental accompaniment to this song was later copied and adapted by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, who recorded it as "Black Mountain Side".
Jansch and John Renbourn play "The Time Has Come" on their duo record before eventually recording it with the rest of Pentangle on the "Sweet Child" release. One song, "Mosaic Patterns" (which she herself has never recorded) was recorded by blues singer, Dorris Henderson. Sandy Denny wrote a song in tribute to Briggs, called "The Pond and the Stream" on Fotheringay (1970).
Briggs has been cited as a favourite of Eliza Carthy, Kate Rusby and lead singer of Altan, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. Charlotte Greig and the Scottish band James Yorkston and the Athletes have said Briggs was an influence on them. David Tibet of Current 93 also recently mentioned her in an interview.
The 2009 The Decemberists album, The Hazards of Love, was inspired by Briggs's album of the same name.
Willie o' Winsbury
Anne Briggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a prisoner long in Spain,
And Willie of the Winsbury
Has lain long with his daughter at hame.
"What ails ye, what ails ye, my daughter Janet,
Why you look so pale and wan?
Oh have you had any sore sickness
"I have not had any sore sickness
Nor yet been sleeping wi' a man.
It is for you, my father dear,
For biding so long in Spain"
"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown,
You stand naked upon the stane,
That I may ken ye by your shape
Whether you be a maiden or none."
And she's cast off her berry-brown gown,
She stood naked upon the stone.
Her apron was low and her haunches were round,
Her face was pale and wan.
"Oh, was it with a lord or a duke or a knight
Or a man of birth and fame?
Or was it with one of me serving men
That's lately come out of Spain?"
"No, it wasn't with a lord, nor a duke, nor a knight,
Or a man of birth and fame.
But it was with Willie of Winsbury,
I could bide no longer alone."
And the king he has called on his merry men all,
By thirty and by three,
Says, "Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury,
For hanged he shall be."
But when he came the king before,
He was clad all in the red silk.
His hair was like the strands of gold,
His skin was as white as the milk.
"And it is no wonder," said the king,
"That my daughter's love you did win.
If I was a woman, as I am a man,
My bedfellow you would have been."
"And will you marry my daughter Janet
By the truth of your right hand?
Oh, will you marry my daughter Janet?
I'll make you the lord of my land."
"Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand.
Yes I will marry your daughter Janet,
But I'll not be the lord of your land."
And he's mounted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on a dapple grey.
He has made her the lady of as much land
As she'll ride in a long summer's day.
The lyrics to Anne Briggs's song Willie o' Winsbury tell the story of a king who has been held captive in Spain for a long time, and his daughter Janet, who has been secretly seeing Willie of Winsbury while her father has been away. When the king returns and discovers his daughter's relationship, he demands that Willie be brought before him and threatens to hang him. However, when Willie appears before the king, he is so handsome and impressive that the king decides to offer him his daughter's hand in marriage instead. Willie agrees to marry Janet, but declines the offer to become a lord in the king's kingdom.
The lyrics are a classic example of a Scottish ballad. The narrative is full of vivid imagery that brings the story to life, such as when Janet casts off her gown and stands naked on the stone, revealing her shape to her father. There is also a strong sense of tension as the king threatens to hang Willie, only to change his mind when he sees how impressive the young man is.
Line by Line Meaning
The king had been a prisoner
The king had been held captive
And a prisoner long in Spain,
The king had been a captive in Spain for a long time
And Willie of the Winsbury
Willie of Winsbury
Has lain long with his daughter at hame.
Has been in a long-term romantic relationship with the king's daughter at home.
"What ails ye, what ails ye, my daughter Janet,
Why are you unwell, my daughter Janet
Why you look so pale and wan?
Why do you look so pale and unwell?
Oh have you had any sore sickness
Have you been ill?
Or yet been sleeping with a man?"
Or have you engaged in sexual activity with a man?
"I have not had any sore sickness
I have not been ill
Nor yet been sleeping wi' a man.
Nor have I engaged in sexual activity with a man
It is for you, my father dear,
It is because of you, my dear father
For biding so long in Spain"
For being captive in Spain for such a long time
"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown,
Remove your clothing, including your berry-brown gown
You stand naked upon the stane,
You stand naked on the stone
That I may ken ye by your shape
So that I can recognize you by your body shape
Whether you be a maiden or none."
And determine whether or not you are a virgin
And she's cast off her berry-brown gown,
She removed her berry-brown gown
She stood naked upon the stone.
She stood naked on the stone
Her apron was low and her haunches were round,
Her apron was low-cut and her hips were rounded
Her face was pale and wan.
Her face was pale and ill-looking
"Oh, was it with a lord or a duke or a knight
Did you engage in sexual activity with a lord, a duke, a knight?
Or a man of birth and fame?
Or a man of high social status?
Or was it with one of me serving men
Or did you have sexual activity with one of my servants
That's lately come out of Spain?"
Who recently returned from Spain?
"No, it wasn't with a lord, nor a duke, nor a knight,
No, it wasn't with a lord, a duke or a knight
Or a man of birth and fame.
Or a man of high social status
But it was with Willie of Winsbury,
But it was with Willie of Winsbury
I could bide no longer alone."
I couldn't stand being alone any longer
And the king he has called on his merry men all,
The king called all his happy followers
By thirty and by three,
Thirty-three of them
Says, "Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury,
Bring me Willie of Winsbury
For hanged he shall be."
So that he can be executed by hanging
But when he came the king before,
But when he stood before the king
He was clad all in the red silk.
He was dressed entirely in red silk clothes
His hair was like the strands of gold,
His hair was as beautiful as strands of gold
His skin was as white as the milk.
His skin was as white as milk
"And it is no wonder," said the king,
"It is no surprise," said the king
"That my daughter's love you did win.
That you won my daughter's love
If I was a woman, as I am a man,
If I were a woman, as I am a man,
My bedfellow you would have been."
I would have made love to you
"And will you marry my daughter Janet
"Will you marry my daughter Janet?
By the truth of your right hand?
Will you swear it by your right hand?
Oh, will you marry my daughter Janet?
Oh, will you marry my daughter Janet?
I'll make you the lord of my land."
I'll make you the ruler of my land
"Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
"Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand.
I swear it by my right hand
Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet,
Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
But I'll not be the lord of your land."
But I will not rule your land
And he's mounted her on a milk-white steed
He has put her on a white horse
And himself on a dapple grey.
And he has mounted himself on a grey horse
He has made her the lady of as much land
He has given her as much land
As she'll ride in a long summer's day.
As far as she can ride in a long summer day.
Contributed by Julian D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@NijoleWest-dx6jv
Lyrics:
The king had been a prisoner
And a prisoner long in Spain
And Willie of the Winsbury
Has lain long with his daughter at hame
"What ails ye, what ails ye, my daughter Janet
Why you look so pale and wan?
Oh have you had any sore sickness
Or yet been sleeping with a man?"
"I have not had any sore sickness
Nor yet been sleeping wi' a man
It is for you, my father dear
For biding so long in Spain
Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown
You stand naked upon the stane
That I may ken ye by your shape
Whether you be a maiden or none"
And she's cast off her berry-brown gown
She stood naked upon the stone
Her apron was low and hеr haunches were round
Hеr face was pale and wan"
Oh, was it with a lord or a duke or a knight
Or a man of birth and fame?
Or was it with one of me serving men
That's lately come out of Spain?"
"No, it wasn't with a lord, nor a duke, nor a knight
Or a man of birth and fame
But it was with Willie of Winsbury
I could bide no longer alone"
And the king he has called on his merry men all
By thirty and by three
Says, "Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury
For hanged he shall be"
But when he came the king before
He was clad all in the red silk
His hair was like the strands of gold
His skin was as white as the milk
And it is no wonder," said the king
"That my daughter's love you did win
If I was a woman, as I am a man
My bedfellow you would have been"
"And will you marry my daughter Janet
By the truth of your right hand?
Oh, will you marry my daughter Janet?
I'll make you the lord of my land"
"Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand
Yes I will marry your daughter Janet
But I'll not be the lord of your land"
And he's mounted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on a dapple grey
He has made her the lady of as much land
As she'll ride in a long summer's day
@drguyjones
Lovely to hear the sweet voice of a Nottingham lass.
@JeanReboul361
I just fell in love with this voice and this personality that comes out. Thanks Anne for those infinite emotions, timeless and mysterious.
Greetings from France !
@chrisgillitt1117
How can anyone 'dislike' this? It is beauty beyond belief...philistines!
@patbur395
I never thought I'd see the day I'd hear a voice that could touch my beloved Sandy Denny's, but this comes wonderfully close. Absolutely gorgeous.
@roberth1322
Easily the best rendition I've ever heard, so beautiful, and I love the falter in her voice (you know what I mean if you hear it) which makes her just even more special in this recording.
@christopheredwards4012
this song is infinite
@roberth1322
What a wonderful song. Thank you, Anne.
@frankodonnell7897
thanks annie;lovely
@sumerisle
beautiful beyond words , one of the best singers of modern times , so true , so pure ,peace
@niallmcdevitt7691
Of all Anne's recorded tracks, this for me is divine.