Dickson was born in Dunfermline. Her singing career started in folk clubs around her native Fife in the sixties, exposing her to a rich combination of traditional and contemporary music. In the early seventies, she sang at a Liverpool folk club run by a young student teacher called Willy Russell. He showed Barbara the first draft of what would later become the award winning musical, ‘John, Paul, George, Ringo….and Bert’ and asked her to perform the music. The combination of fine writing, a superb cast of young unknowns, (including Antony Sher, Bernard Hill and Trevor Eve), and Barbara’s idiosyncratic interpretation of Beatles songs made the show hugely successful.
The show’s co-producer, Robert Stigwood, signed Barbara to his record label, RSO Records, where she recorded the album ‘Answer Me’, the title track becoming a top ten hit in 1976. This led to her guest residency on the much-loved series ‘The Two Ronnies’, which brought Barbara’s singing to the attention of more than 10 million BBC viewers every week.
Also impressed by Barbara’s performance were Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who invited her to record ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’ from the new musical ‘Evita’, which became her second hit in 1977.
Other hits including ‘Caravan Song’ and ‘January, February’, followed in 1980.
In 1982, Willy Russell asked Barbara to star in his new musical ‘Blood Brothers’ in the pivotal role of the mother, Mrs. Johnstone. Although at first reluctant to accept, having never acted before, (not even in a school play!), she rose to the challenge, in the process garnering critical acclaim as well as Actress of the Year in a Musical from the Society of West End Theatres in 1984.
Later that year, Tim Rice approached Barbara to take part in the cast album recording of the musical ‘Chess’, which included the song ‘I Know Him So Well’, a duet sung with Elaine Paige. The song was a worldwide hit and remained at number one in the UK charts for many weeks.
During the 1990s Barbara appeared in various TV dramas including ‘Taggart’, the award winning ‘Band of Gold’ and ‘The Missing Postman’.
Acclaimed writer and director Chris Bond created a show for Barbara in 1996 called ‘The Seven Ages of Woman’ which won her the Liverpool Echo Actress of the Year Award. It premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse and toured extensively in 1997 and 1998.
In 1999, Barbara starred in ‘Spend, Spend, Spend’, a new musical by Steve Brown and Justin Greene. The show, based on the rollercoaster life story of pools winner, Viv Nicholson, played in the West End to capacity audiences. For her portrayal of Viv, Barbara was awarded ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ at the 2000 Laurence Olivier Awards.
Barbara continues to appear in concert and on record. She has in the last few years had great success with ‘The Platinum Collection’, which featured some of her most successful recordings.
Her last album, ‘Full Circle’, a journey back through her musical history, was hugely admired and well reviewed. Barbara’s most recent CD is an eclectic collection of the songs of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison called ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My World.’
During 2006 she has appeared as the Timekeeper in Alan Ayckbourn and Denis King’s fantasy musical play
‘Whenever’ for BBC Radio 4 and presented ‘Finding A Voice’, also for BBC Radio 4.
Married with three teenaged sons, Barbara lives in Lincolnshire. An O.B.E. was conferred upon her in the Queens’ New Year’s Honours in 2002.
Geordie
Barbara Dickson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a misty morning early,
I overheard a fair pretty maid
A cryin' for the life of Geordie
Go bridle to me a milk white steed
Bridle to me a pony
I'll ride down to London town
For he never stole ox, he never stole ass
He never murdered any
He stole 16 of the King's wild deer
And he sold them in Bohenny
But when she rode down and in the King's Hall
There were lords and ladies a'plenty
Down on her bended knees, she did fall
And she begged for the life of Geordie
Crying "six pretty babies I've had by him
Another one lies in my body
Freely I'd part with each one of them
If you'll give me the life of Geordie
But the judge looked over his left shoulder
He cries, I'm sorry for thee
My pretty fair maid you've come too late
For he's been condemned already
Oh, me Geordie shall hang in a chain of gold
Such chains as never was any
Because he came of the royal blood
And he courted a fine young lady
Oh I wish I had you in younder grove
Where times I have been many
With my broad sword and pistol too
I'd fight for the life of Geordie
Barbara Dickson's "Geordie" tells the story of a woman who rides on a misty morning over London Bridge to plead for the life of her lover, Geordie, who is about to be executed. Geordie has been sentenced to death for stealing 16 of the King's deer and selling them in Bohenny. The woman cries out for help, asking for a milk-white steed, and in London town, she finds herself in the court with lords and ladies where she falls on her bended knees and pleads for the life of Geordie. She explains that Geordie never killed anyone or stole anything other than the King's deer. She even goes to great lengths, offering to part with her six children and the unborn baby, begging for mercy for Geordie.
Line by Line Meaning
As I rode out over London Bridge
While riding across the London Bridge
On a misty morning early,
During the early hours of a misty morning
I overheard a fair pretty maid
She heard a beautiful girl crying
A cryin' for the life of Geordie
Who was crying for the pardon of Geordie
Go bridle to me a milk white steed
Bring me a bright white horse
Bridle to me a pony
And also bring me a pony too
I'll ride down to London town
She'll cross London to plead her case
And I'll plead for the life of Geordie
And request clemency for Geordie
For he never stole ox, he never stole ass
Because he's never stolen cows or donkeys
He never murdered any
He hasn't killed anyone
He stole 16 of the King's wild deer
But he poached 16 King's deer from Bohenny
And he sold them in Bohenny
And illegally sold them in Bohenny
But when she rode down and in the King's Hall
But when she reached the King's court
There were lords and ladies a'plenty
The court was filled with nobles and ladies
Down on her bended knees, she did fall
She fell down on her knees
And she begged for the life of Geordie
And pleaded for Geordie's life
Crying "six pretty babies I've had by him
Saying that she bears six kids by him
Another one lies in my body
And she's currently pregnant again
Freely I'd part with each one of them
She's willing to give up her children
If you'll give me the life of Geordie
In exchange for Geordie's pardon
But the judge looked over his left shoulder
But the judge turned his face away
He cries, I'm sorry for thee
Saying he's sorry for her plea
My pretty fair maid you've come too late
Telling her she's too late
For he's been condemned already
As Geordie's already sentenced and imprisoned
Oh, me Geordie shall hang in a chain of gold
Geordie will be hanged wearing a golden chain
Such chains as never was any
An extraordinary chain never seen before
Because he came of the royal blood
Geordie hailed from proud ancestry
And he courted a fine young lady
And loved a beautiful maiden
Oh I wish I had you in younder grove
I wish I was with you in that grove then
Where times I have been many
Where we've spent good times together
With my broad sword and pistol too
Armed with my broad sword and pistol
I'd fight for the life of Geordie
I would even fight to save Geordie
Contributed by Ethan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.