Blending folk with classical music and c… Read Full Bio ↴www.belshazzarsfeast.co.uk
Blending folk with classical music and comedy plus the odd music hall song thrown in.
If you like Mozart, Beethoven, Elvis Presley and The Spinners avoid them - you have been warned!
In 1995 Paul Hutchinson (accordion) and Paul Sartin (oboe, violin and vocals) shared a musical passion borne out of the desire to earn sufficient money to support their extravagant lifestyles. Their amazing musicianship coupled with wry humour stunned audiences around Europe and the States. After a brief sabbatical, they're back!
“Tantalizing tunes performed with wit and finesse” – Verity Sharp, BBC Radio 3
“My personal find of the festival - Paul Hutchinson and Paul Sartin play like no-one else you've ever heard. Their music is breathtaking and wickedly inventive and the between-tunes interchange as intelligent and hilarious as the music. But don't let me give you the impression they're a lightweight comedy act: they finish the set with a haunting piece of oboe and accordion magic which has the audience spellbound.” – Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2
Paul Sartin is a member of BBC Radio 2 Award-winning big band Bellowheadand English music trio Faustus. He combines his busy performing career with teaching and outreach work, at St Edward's School in Oxford and for community organisations, most notably Live Music Now and SuperAct. He dabbles in academia, recently assisting on a number of publications of old tune manuscripts, and regularly deputises with the Choir of Winchester Cathedral, where he gets to wear a dress to work.
Paul Hutchinson is a member of the innovative and progressive folk trio, Hoover the Dog as well as Okavango - the collaboration between Hoover the Dog and Fluxus (Belgium). Paul is also a seasoned accordion tutor for Folkworks, Hands On, British Council (in Czech Republic and Belgium) and the University of Limerick. His favourite colour is pink.
Home Lad Home
Belshazzar's Feast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With tramp of feet and jingle as I heard the gunteams go
When something seemed to mind me a dreaming as I lay
Of my old Hampshire village at the quiet end of day
Proud thatch with gardens blooming with lily and with rose
The cool shining river, so pleasant where he flows
White fields of oats and barley and the elderflower like foam
And it′s home, lads home, all among the corn and clover
Home lads home, when the working day is over
Where there's rest for horse and man when the longest day is done
And we′ll all go home together at the setting of the sun
Captain Prince and Blossom, I see them all so plain
With tasseled earflaps nodding all along the leafy lane
Somewhere a bird is calling and the swallows flying low
And the lads all sitting sideways and singing as they goAnd it's home, lads home, all among the corn and clover
Home lads home, when the working day is over
Where there's rest for horse and man when the longest day is done
And we′ll all go home together at the setting of the sun
Gone is many a lad now and many a horse gone too
All those lads and horses from those old fields I knew
For Dick fell at Givenchy and Prince beside the gun
On that red road to glory a mile or two from Mons
Gray lads and shadowy horses, I see them just the same
I see them and I know them and I call them each by name
Going down the shining waters with all the West a-glow
And the lads all sitting sideways and singing as they go
And it′s home, lads, home, with the sunset on their faces
Home lads, home to those quiet happy places
Where there's rest for horse and man when the hardest fight is done
And they′ll all go home together at the setting of the sun
The song Home Lad Home by Belshazzar's Feast is a nostalgic and melancholic tune that describes the memories of a soldier as he lays dreaming in the trenches of Flanders. The soldier reminisces about his hometown in Hampshire, England, and how he longs to return for rest and peace once the war is over. He imagines the idyllic scenes of his village, with blooming gardens, the shining river, and fields of crops. The imagery of the sunset and the horses going home evoke a sense of calm and tranquility that contrasts with the chaos and violence of war. The soldier recalls his old companions and horses "from those old fields," who are now gone, fallen in battle. Despite this, he still sees them in his mind's eye as he imagines them crossing the river and heading home, singing and happy.
The song's lyrics are emotionally charged, highlighting the devastating effects of war on soldiers and their families. The soldier's longing for home underscores the universal human desire for comfort, safety, and the company of loved ones. The contrast between the horrors of war and the peacefulness of home highlights the absurdity and futility of the conflict. The song celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the power of memory and imagination to overcome hardship and adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Behind the trench in Flanders the sun was setting low
Amidst the sound of marching and gunshots, I found myself dreaming about my beautiful village in Hampshire as the sun set behind the Flanders trench.
With tramp of feet and jingle as I heard the gunteams go
In the midst of heavy footfall and loud gunshots, the sound of jingling gunteams filled my ears.
When something seemed to mind me a dreaming as I lay
As I lay down, I felt my mind drifting off into a beautiful dream.
Of my old Hampshire village at the quiet end of day
In my dream, I envision my beautiful village in Hampshire at the end of a peaceful day.
Proud thatch with gardens blooming with lily and with rose
My village is picturesque with thatched houses, lush gardens blooming with lilies and roses.
The cool shining river, so pleasant where he flows
There is a beautiful river that flows cool and clear, adding to the charm of my village.
White fields of oats and barley and the elderflower like foam
Fields of oats and barley extend as far as the eye can see, with elderflowers like foam dotted across them.
And the sky a gold at sunset and the horses going home
As the sun sets, the sky turns into a beautiful golden color, and horses walk back home.
And it's home, lads home, all among the corn and clover
The reminder of being home brings a sense of joy among the farmers who work hard at the fields of corn and clover.
Home lads home, when the working day is over
The feeling of being back home fills the farmers' hearts with gladness as they return after a long day of work.
Where there's rest for horse and man when the longest day is done
After a long day of hard work, the farmers and horses can finally relax and rest at home.
And we'll all go home together at the setting of the sun
As the sun sets, everyone, including the farmers and their horses, heads back home together.
Captain Prince and Blossom, I see them all so plain
I remember my horses, Captain Prince and Blossom, as if I am seeing them in front of me.
With tasseled earflaps nodding all along the leafy lane
I recall seeing them nodding their tasseled earflaps as we walked along the leafy lane.
Somewhere a bird is calling and the swallows flying low
As we walk towards home, we can hear the call of a bird and see swallows flying low in the sky.
And the lads all sitting sideways and singing as they go
I remember seeing all the farmers sitting sideways on their horses and singing joyfully as they walked together.
Gone is many a lad now and many a horse gone too
Sadly, many of my fellow farmers and their horses have passed away.
All those lads and horses from those old fields I knew
I remember all those farmers and horses that I worked with on the old fields of Hampshire.
For Dick fell at Givenchy and Prince beside the gun
I mourn for my friend Dick, who died in the battle at Givenchy, and my horse Prince, who fell beside a gun.
Gray lads and shadowy horses, I see them just the same
Although they may be gone, I still remember the gray-haired farmers and horses as if I am seeing them before me.
I see them and I know them and I call them each by name
I remember each and every farmer and horse by their names and feel their presence around me.
Going down the shining waters with all the West a-glow
In my mind, I can see the farmers and their horses walking down the shining waters with the glorious West glowing in the background.
And it's home, lads, home, with the sunset on their faces
The farmers and horses finally return home, with the setting sun shining on their faces, signifying a lovely end to the day.
Home lads, home to those quiet happy places
Being back home with their loved ones fills the farmers' hearts and their horses with happiness.
Where there's rest for horse and man when the hardest fight is done
After conquering a tough day, the farmers and their horses find rest and solace at home.
And they'll all go home together at the setting of the sun
As the day ends and the sun sets, the farmers and their horses head back home together, cherishing the bond between them.
Writer(s): D.r.
Contributed by Alexander C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.