They released one Ep, E.P.onymous in October 2004, and five albums, Burlesque in October 2006, Matachin in October 2008, Hedonism in October 2010, Broadside in October 2012 and Revival in June 2014.
http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/releases.html
They announced in 2015 that the 2016 tour would be the last.
www.bellowhead.co.uk/home/item/142-thats-all-folks.html
Band Members ...
Jon Boden - lead vocals and fiddle
John Spiers - melodeon & concertina
Benji Kirkpatrick - bouzouki, guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo
Paul Sartin - Fiddle, oboe and vocals
Rachael McShane - Cello, fiddle, vocals
Ed Neuhauser - Sousaphone, Helicon & Tuba
Pete Flood - percussion
Andy Mellon - trumpet & flugelhorn
Brendan Kelly - soprano & tenor saxes, bass clarinet
Justin Thurgur - trombone
Sam Sweeney - Fiddle, Bagpipes
www.bellowhead.co.uk/band.html
Death and The Lady
Bellowhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All in the merry month of May
I met an old man on my way
All in the morning early
His head was bald his beard was grey
His cheeks were like the mortal clay
I asked him how he came that way
My name is Death oh don't you see
Lords, dukes and squires bow down to me
And you must come along with me
All in the morning early
I'll give you gold and riches rare
I'll give you costly robes to wear
I'll give you all my earthly share
If you'll spare me a little while longer
Lady leave your robes aside
No longer glory in your pride
No more in life you may abide
So come along with me
And then the mortal toll was paid
And all alone this pretty maid
By death so cruelly was betrayed
And we all come stumbling after
Bellowhead's song "Death and The Lady" begins with a man walking alone in the merry month of May when he comes across an old man who he engages in conversation. The old man turns out to be Death himself, and he offers the man gold, riches, and costly robes in exchange for his life. The man bargains with him, asking for a little while longer to live, to which Death agrees. Then the song takes a shift, and Death turns his attention to a lady, urging her to leave her pride and glory behind as her time has come to an end. The lyrics then reveal that Death has indeed claimed the lady's life, and in the end, we are all destined to face a similar fate.
The song is essentially a reminder of the inevitability of death, and how it comes to claim us all, no matter how rich or poor, powerful or not. It is also a call to embrace the fleeting nature of life and to let go of all earthly possessions that ultimately do not matter in the face of death. The lyrics of the song help to paint a vivid picture of these themes with stunning visuals like an old man with a bald head, grey beard, and cheeks like mortal clay.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walked out alone one day
While I wandered alone on a general day
All in the merry month of May
It happened to be in the cheerful month of May
I met an old man on my way
I bumped into an elderly gentleman while walking
All in the morning early
During the early hours of the morning
His head was bald his beard was grey
The man had no hair on his head, only a grey beard
His cheeks were like the mortal clay
His cheeks had the texture and color of earthly mud
I asked him how he came that way
I inquired how he ended up like that
All in the morning early
Still during the early hours of the morning
My name is Death oh don't you see
The old man revealed himself to be Death itself
Lords, dukes, and squires bow down to me
Reigning officials and members of the elite pay homage to me
And you must come along with me
Death demanded company from me
All in the morning early
Still during the early hours of the morning
I'll give you gold and riches rare
Death offered to provide me with valuable and luxurious items
I'll give you costly robes to wear
Another offer of expensive clothing was put forth
I'll give you all my earthly share
A promise of relinquishing all personal possessions was made
If you'll spare me a little while longer
In return for buying me more time, Death asked for cooperation
Lady leave your robes aside
A lady was requested to take off her elegant clothes
No longer glory in your pride
The young woman was told to let go of her vanity
No more in life you may abide
The girl was warned that she would no longer be able to continue living
So come along with me
In effect, the young woman was asked to go with Death
And then the mortal toll was paid
The girl had to succumb to the inevitable fate of all mortals
And all alone this pretty maid
The beautiful girl was left to her own devices
By death so cruelly was betrayed
Death was harsh and ruthless towards her
And we all come stumbling after
It was a reminder that eventually, we all follow the same path
Contributed by Connor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.