The musicians of BEGGARS OPERA were Martin Griffiths (vocals), Rick Gardiner (guitar and vocals), Alan Park (keyboards), Gordon Sellar (bass, acoustic guitar and vocals), Virginia Scott (Mellotron and vocals) and Raymond Wilson (drums and percussion). BEGGARS OPERA made a lot of records but remained acting in the shade of most progressive rock bands.
Their debut-album "Act one" (’70 Vertigo) contains fluent and tasteful organ driven progrock with powerful "Sixties" sounding guitar work. The long track "Raymond’s Road" is a splendid tribute to the "classics" featuring Mozart’s A la Turka, Bach’s Toaccata in d-fuga en Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite on the Hammond organ. The second album "Waters of Change" (’71) is build around the dual keyboard play of Alan Park and newcomer Virginia Scott and the distinctive, a bit cynical vocals of Griffiths. The nine tracks are beautiful symphonic landscapes with many organ solos, some swelling and glorious Mellotron waves (like The MOODY BLUES and early KING CRIMSON) and fine electric guitarwork. On the third LP "Pathfinder" BEGGARS OPERA seems to have reached its pinnacle: strong and alternating compositions with lush keyboards (Mellotron, organ, piano and harpsichord), powerful electric guitarplay and many shifting moods (even Scottish folk with bagpipes). The band released three more albums but, in my opinion, they sounded far less captivating: "Get your dog off me" (’73), "Sagittary" (’76) and "Beggar's can’t be choosers" (’79).
Beggars Opera back catalogue including the 4 Vertigo albums: Act One, Waters of Change, Pathfinder and Get Your dog off Me, and 2 Jupiter Records Germany albums Sagittary and Beggars Can't Be Choosers, have been digitally remastered and are now available on CD by Repertoire Records Germany.
In 1976: Ricky Gardiner went on to work with David Bowie/Low album and Iggy Pop/ Lust for Life album, on which he co-wrote legendary song The Passenger with Iggy Pop.
Beggars Opera now are Ricky Gardiner Guitars( founder) and Virginia Scott (mellotron) Keys and Vox. They have released Close to My Heart ( RGS 9473) and Touching the Edge (RGS 9475) two new albums of progressive rock songs with Tom Gardiner (TommyG ) on drums and more.....
www.beggarsopera.co.uk
www.beggarsopera.eu
www.rickygardiner.com
www.virginiaaurorascott.co.uk
Sarabande
Beggars Opera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That it was only a thing to see
So let the singer sing the song
A little rhyme of right and wrong
Sarabande
Sa-ha-ha-ha-ha-rabande
??? the street behind
Into our golden sand of time
When ones ??? into the sun
Sarabande
Sa-ha-ha-ha-ha-rabande
And soon there's something that came to mind
No one of us really mind
Into our golden sand of time
And send us known into the sun
Sarabande
Sa-ha-ha-ha-ha-rabande
Sarabande
Sa-ha-ha-ha-ha-rabande
Sarabande
Sa-ha-ha-ha-ha-rabande
The lyrics of Beggars Opera's Sarabande are somewhat enigmatic and open to interpretation. The song begins with a sense of anticipation, as something unnamed and mysterious is said to be approaching. However, as the lyrics suggest, this thing may only be something to see, an ephemeral and fleeting experience. The singer is called upon to sing a song, a little rhyme of right and wrong, perhaps to distract from this fleeting moment and give it some significance or meaning. The rest of the lyrics repeat the word "Sarabande" over and over again, which is a dance form from the baroque period. The repetition of the word may suggest a trance-like state, as if the singer and listeners are being transported to another realm through the music.
The meaning of the song is open to interpretation, but it seems to be about the fleeting nature of life and the importance of music and art in giving meaning to our experiences. The repetition of the word "Sarabande" suggests a ritualistic quality to the song, as if it is a form of meditation or prayer. The lyrics also suggest that the singer is able to capture something of the essence of life through the song, even if it is only for a brief moment.
Line by Line Meaning
And now ??? comes near
An unknown event or thing is approaching
That it was only a thing to see
Whatever it is, it is only a spectacle
So let the singer sing the song
The only thing we can do is listen to the music
A little rhyme of right and wrong
The lyrics tell a story of morality and ethics
Sarabande
A reference to a type of dance or music
Sa-ha-ha-ha-ha-rabande
The chorus repeats the name of the dance
It's only something that came to mind
The approaching event is a fleeting thought
??? the street behind
The event appears to be related to the past
Into our golden sand of time
Our memories and experiences are valuable like gold
When ones ??? into the sun
Perhaps when we die, our memories will be gone like we are absorbed by the sun
And soon there's something that came to mind
The approaching thought or event is becoming more clear
No one of us really mind
We don't really care about this event or thought
And send us known into the sun
Again, a possible reference to death or the insignificance of our existence
Contributed by London J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@issy3472
Great memories, saw them live in Glasgow in 1969, bought this record, love it still, fab band
@broncycolon7020
This is/was underrated Band
@theduncanfrasersatiricalso7398
I remember seeing them play at the Greyhound, Fulham in 1972. Very impressive musicians.
@MrFairwinds
Remeber this great track from the KJ Roadshow ,fantastic!
@marctilly13
in my top 3 singles ,a very underrated Scottish band,. guitarist went onto play with bowie
@nikolaosmosxakis3395
VERY VERY GOOD BAND ALL ............................................
@poorguyfromharlemgaming6648
Funny fact this image was used on the 12" album which came out one year before the single did.
Anyway cool Prog rock song, i like the guitar riff it makes for an amazing song.
@tommcnamee5946
MEMORY KICKBACK!!!
@tinchogs594
Es una joya. Gracias por publicarla
@snorp01
Thanks , can you please post B-side Think ?