The trio performed a mixture of both traditional folk songs (though often creatively arranged), hymns and carols, and their own original compositions. Most of their albums were released on the No Masters label (the No Masters Co-operative is a recording and publishing company run by songwriters, singers and musicians based in the North of England).
Much of their music was political in nature, but they also performed sacred music, and released two albums consisting of Christmas carols and hymns (the latter receiving extensive airplay on Classic FM around Christmas time from DJ Natalie Wheen).
In addition to the three vocalists, the nature of the line-up was somewhat fluid, with additional singers joining in as required. Their Christmas recordings were sometimes accredited to 'Voices at the Door', while the trio was also part of the occasional folk 'supergroup' Blue Murder along with members of Waterson:Carthy and The Watersons.
From 2005 they frequently collaborated with label mates Chumbawamba, contributing vocals on the latter's albums "A Singsong and a Scrap", "Get On With It! Live" and "The Boy Bands Have Won".
The trio often worked with choirs and others on various projects, eg. Kerstbestand - a concert about the Christmas truces of WW1, and Private Peaceful - a collaboration with author Micheal Morpurgo about a young soldier shot for cowardice.
The trio gave their final performance in October 2017, as part of the 2017 Derby Folk Festival.
Official website: www.coopeboyesandsimpson.co.uk
Falling Slowly
Coope Boyes & Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they′re meant
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You'll make it now
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can′t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I′m painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
Falling slowly sing your melody
I′ll sing along
The lyrics of Coope Boyes & Simpson's song, Falling Slowly, tell a story of two individuals who are in love with one another but are too afraid to express their emotions. The singer of the song expresses how they do not know the person they love but they still want them even more. However, they struggle to articulate their feelings as words seem to fail them every time. They also mention the games they play that never amount to anything but still continue to play out, indicating their continuous cycle of avoidance and fear.
The chorus of the song is a plea to take control of their relationship and not let it sink like a boat. Although they have been struggling, there is still time for them to make it work, and the singer urges the person they love to raise their voice and be hopeful because they have a choice. The second verse of the song highlights the internal struggles and mood swings that they go through in the relationship, and how it has affected them. The singer then acknowledges the suffering of the person they love and affirms that it's time for them to win in the relationship.
The song's title, "Falling Slowly" signifies the gradual and delicate nature of falling in love. It was written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, for their musical film, "Once" in 2006, and went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. The song has been covered by various artists, including Jennifer Hudson and Kris Allen, and has been featured on several television shows, including "American Idol" and "The Voice". The lyrics were even referenced in an episode of "How I Met Your Mother", where the two main characters use the song to help them reconnect in their friendship.
Line by Line Meaning
I don’t know you
I have no familiarity with you
But I want you
Despite my lack of familiarity, I desire you
All the more for that
In fact, my lack of familiarity with you only adds to my desire for you
Words fall through me
I have difficulty processing words that are spoken to me
And always fool me
Words often deceive or mislead me
And I can’t react
As a result, I cannot immediately respond to these words
And games that never amount To more than they’re meant Will play themselves out
Pointless actions or deceits tend to run their course and reveal themselves as such
Take this sinking boat and point it home
Direct this failing situation towards a resolution
We’ve still got time
Despite the direness of the situation, it is not too late to rectify it
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice You’ll make it now
By becoming optimistic and asserting yourself, you can overcome the obstacles in front of you
Falling Slowly, eyes that know me
As I gradually slip away, I am seen clearly by those who know me
And I can’t go back
I can no longer return to my previous state of being
Moods that take me and erase me
I am overcome by emotions that alter or erase my identity
And I’m painted black
My emotional state burdens me with darkness
You have suffered enough And warded with yourself It’s time that you won
You have endured more than you should have, contending with inner demons; Now it is time to triumph over them
Falling slowly sing your melody
As I slowly succumb to despair, I hear your song
I’ll sing along
I will join you in song, finding solace in the harmony we create together
Contributed by Sadie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.